Polynomial functions are not limited to the highest term and while that term is most important in determining the shape of its graph, additional terms play a role. Try out additional terms to see how they affect the shapes of the graph. Focus on the patterns!
My favorite question is, “Why?” (And my favorite answer is, “Because.”) But not far behind is the question, “What if?” Read about us on my friend Patrick Vennebush’s great website.
Multiplication is often thought of as repeated addition. By building a times table by using a repeated addition rule you will have a fun practice of the multiplication facts, and you will learn to build rules in spreadsheets. Rules let you program spreadsheets to do remarkable things like make the multiplication table in just a …
Which form of interest, simple or compound, is the fairest? If you were buying a house or a car which would you rather have, which would you consider fair? Or if you had your money in a bank account earning interest, which would you consider the fairest way to calculate that interest? We will show …
This problem is typical of the earliest algebra problems that likely came out of India. It is interesting historically, and it is the kind of problem students are still taught to solve today. We can do it very differently using spreadsheets.
Peter and Art are speaking at the: MassMATE 2016 Conference May 25, 2016 Bridgewater State University
1, 3, 6, 10… are called the triangular numbers because they can be stacked up to form a triangle. They are very interesting numbers, and they form a very interesting pattern when graphed. Can you guess the next triangular number? Can you guess the shape of the graph of the triangular numbers? Can you explain …
We often see Lissajous figures in old sci-fi movies because they are so cool. As you play with them I think you will find them as fascinating as I do. They created those figures by graphing points as a function of a third variable (the parameter). We can do the same and in the process …
This Lab introduces a method for solving or estimating the solution to an equation digitally that can be applied to many types of equations. This Functional Thinking approach reduces the need to remember a variety of rules and procedures. It is 1 of 3 Labs on this topic.
