Mathematics can model just about anything—so why not simulate the height of water in a toilet bowl? The lesson asks pupils to create a graphical model to describe the relationship of the height of the water as it empties and fills again. The graph produces both a seemingly linear and exponential relationship.

Concepts

graphing, math modeling

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

math

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Show videos of a flushing toilet for learners to watch as they create their graphs
• For a more accurate graph, collect data about the height of the water over a given time by analyzing video

Classroom Considerations

• Requires a familiarity with graphing a relationship between independent and dependent variables

Pros

• The subject is familiar to everyone
• Produces different types of graphical relationships

Cons

• None

Common Core

8.F.B.5