Unit 2 of Welcome to the Graphs of Life: Identifying Graphs
A Cast of Characters
There are many graphs lurking about in the world. Some are curved, some are straight. Some are natural flirts - they flirt with the x axis
but never reach it. Some are more powerful than others, and come from equations of a higher power. We have scene how graphs can come from functions or be described by functions. There are other kinds of graphs which come from different equations. In the same way that y=3x+2 produces a linear graph, y=x^3 produces another kind of graph. These equations, including the linear and quadratic equations we have studied, also have applications as they relate to graphs in the real world. Let us find and examine each of the graphs that come from different kinds of equations as well as their purpose.
Objectives
1. You will be able to distinguish between and identify different kinds of graphs.
2. You will be able to identify graphs from outside sources according to what kinds of graphs they are.
3. You will be able to understand which functions generate which kinds of graphs.
4. You will be able to identify relations of graphs from outside sources.
Day 1: Lines
As a shape, the line is abundant in our world. It surrounds us. It's formed by the exhaust from a plane, the borders of a doorway, the incline of a ramp. Today you will be challenged to find other ways in which lines appear in the real world.
Day 2: Parabolas
From suspension bridges to projectile motion, parabolas pop up in the world around us.
Day 3: Graphs from Cubic and Quartic Equations
The cousins of the quadratic, these equations which raise x to powers of 3 and 4 can be useful in describing trends.
Graphs from Cubic and Quartic Equations
Day 4: Exponential Equations
Exponential equations are useful in describing rapid growth - from populations to number of Facebook users.
Day 5: Hyperbolas
The graph and equation of the inverse relation.
Reflection
What have you learned in this unit? How do the graphs you've learned about appear and have applications in the real world?
Home Link
Unit 1 of Welcome to the Graphs of Life: Graphing Functions
Unit 3 of Welcome to the Graphs of Life: Analyzing Graphs of Own Creation