This activity was developed by a student or students at Mainland High School which is located in Daytona Beach, FL.   It is still a "work in progress" with editing and improvements yet to come.

Materials: graph paper, graphing calculator, pencil, paper, straight edge.


As you complete this activity, please keep an accurate account of your work. It will be necessary to answer ALL questions about ALL families of functions. Please keep this an organized fashion. Each person will be responsible for turning in ALL WORK.

Look at each family of functions. Write a brief description of how the equations within each family are alike and how they are different.

 

FAMILY 1 FAMILY 2 FAMILY 3
y = x y = - x y = x + 1
y = 2x y = - 2x y = x +2
y = 3x y = - 3x y = x +3
y = 4x y = - 4x y = x +4

On one set of axes, graph "Family 1."  Make a sketch of this family on your graph paper. Label each graph with this equation. Compare the graphs. Write a brief description about the graphs comparing how they’re alike and hot they are different.

On one set of axes, graph "Family 2."  Make a sketch of this family on your graph paper. Label each graph with this equation. Compare the graphs. Write a brief description about the graphs comparing how they’re alike and hot they are different.

On one set of axes, graph "Family 3."  Make a sketch of this family on your graph paper. Label each graph with this equation. Compare the graphs. Write a brief description about the graphs comparing how they’re alike and hot they are different.

FAMILY 4 FAMILY 5 FAMILY 6
y = -x + 1 y = x - 1 y = -x - 1
y = -x + 2 y = x - 2 y = -x - 2
y = -x + 3 y = x - 3 y = -x - 3
y = -x + 4 y = x - 4 y = -x - 4

On one set of axes, graph "Family 4."  Make a sketch of this family on your graph paper. Label each graph with this equation. Compare the graphs. Write a brief description about the graphs comparing how they’re alike and hot they are different.

On one set of axes, graph "Family 5." Make a sketch of this family on your graph paper. Label each graph with this equation. Compare the graphs. Write a brief description about the graphs comparing how they’re alike and hot they are different.

On one set of axes, graph "Family 6."  Make a sketch of this family on your graph paper. Label each graph with this equation. Compare the graphs. Write a brief description about the graphs comparing how they’re alike and hot they are different.

Compare the families. Write a paragraph that includes how they are alike and how they are different. Also, discuss how changes in the equations between the families seem to affect the graphs. Be sure to indicate specifics about the equation that makes them seem different (numbers and where they are located, positives and negatives and where they are located).
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