Lesson 3

Lesson 3: Quadratic Functions and Graphing Calculators

 

Focus

 

A trebuchet is a type of very powerful catapult that medieval invaders sometimes used for throwing heavy stones at castle walls. Today, hobbyists build them for throwing pumpkins and even automobiles for sport or in contests. Whether you are using a trebuchet for moving heavy objects or throwing an egg using your arm, the path of the projectile can be accurately described mathematically using a quadratic function. However, the coordinates and intercepts aren’t usually the tidy whole numbers that have appeared in this module so far. You need a way to find the values for quadratic functions that are not just integers.

 

In this lesson you will learn how to use graphing calculators to draw the graphs and identify the values of the coordinates of the vertex, the x- and y-intercepts, the axis of symmetry, and the domain and range of a quadratic function. Learning these new skills will provide you with the ability to predict the path of a stone or other projectile, which is a skill you will need for your project.

 

Lesson Questions

 

This lesson will help you answer the following inquiry questions:

• How can you use a graphing calculator to draw the graph of a quadratic function?
  
  
• How can you use a graphing calculator to identify the coordinates of the vertex, domain and range, axis of symmetry, and x- and y-intercepts of the graph of a quadratic function?

Assessment

• Lesson 3 Assignment

All assessment items you encounter need to be placed in your course folder.

 

Save a copy of the Lesson 3 Assignment to your course folder. You will receive more information about how to complete the assignment later in this lesson.

 

 

Materials and Equipment

• graphing calculator