Quadratic Links
'Use logical deduction to piece this quadratic puzzle together and make lots of quadratic links!'
How much information do you need about a quadratic function before you can sketch it? How do you find the intercepts from the equation? Surprisingly, the answers to these questions can usually be pieced together from existing knowledge. Start by matching the four bits of information that go with each sketch, then repeat the exercise but with less and less information each time! Eventually we see that the quadratic alone often gives you all the information you need! This activity aims to reinforce the links between all the features of a quadratic function. The function itself, the graph, the intercepts/roots, and sometimes the factorised form! Inherent in the activity is the notion that the skill required here is logical deduction and not necessarily the learning of new ideas.
Below is a quick screencast to show the activity in action
Aims
This activity aims to reinforce the links between all the features of a quadratic function. The function itself, the graph, the intercepts/roots, and sometimes the factorised form!
Inherent in the activity is the notion that the skill required here is logical deduction and not necessarily the learning of new ideas.
Resources
This activity is in three stages run from the following three worksheets:
For more thoughts on this activity, teachers can read the
Quadratic links 1
Quadratic Links teachers notesGallery
Here are a few photos of the activity in action.
Description
- There are three stages to this activity
- stage one - cut out the pieces of information, four bits of info go with each graph. The cards should be put into groups of 5 accordingly
- stage 2 - repeating the exercise only this time there are some blanks to fill in as you go
- stage 3 - repeating the exercise with yet more blanks
- reach a general conclusion about how the features of a quadratics can be determined from the equation alone.