Graphing Lines

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Mathematics

Grade(s)

9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

In this PhET activity, students will explore the world of lines and investigate the relationships between linear equations, slope, and graphs of lines. The learning goals for this activity will be to explain how the slope of a graphed line can be computed, graph a line given an equation in either slope-intercept or point-slope form, write an equation in slope-intercept or point-slope form given a graphed line, and predict how changing variables in a linear equation will affect the graphed line. This activity should be used to help teach a lesson on graphing linear equations. This PhET activity can be downloaded and assigned to Google Classroom.

Mathematics (2019) Grade(s): 09-12 - Geometry with Data Analysis

MA19.GDA.15

Evaluate possible solutions to real-life problems by developing linear models of contextual situations and using them to predict unknown values.

UP:MA19.GDA.15

Vocabulary

  • Quantitative variables
  • Scatter plot
  • Residuals
  • Slope
  • Rate of change
  • Intercepts
  • Constant
  • Ordered pairs
  • Horizontal lines
  • Vertical lines

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Techniques for creating a scatter plot.
  • Techniques for fitting a linear function to a scatter plot.
  • Methods to find the slope and intercept of a linear function.
  • Techniques for fitting various functions (linear, quadratic, exponential) to data.
  • Methods for using residuals to judge the closeness of the fit of the function to the original data.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Accurately create a scatter plot of data.
  • Correctly choose a function to fit the scatter plot.
  • Make reasonable assessments on the fit of the function to the data by examining residuals.
  • Accurately fit a linear function to data when there is evidence of a linear association.
  • Accurately fit linear functions to scatter plots.
  • Correctly find the slope and intercept of linear functions.
  • Justify and explain the relevant connections slope and intercept of the linear function to the data.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Functions are used to create equations representative of ordered pairs of data.
  • Residuals may be examined to analyze how well a function fits the data.
  • When a linear association is suggested, a linear function can be fit to the scatter plot to aid in modeling the relationship.
  • Linear functions are used to model data that have a relationship that closely resembles a linear relationship.
  • The slope and intercept of a linear function may be interpreted as the rate of change and the zero point (starting point).

CR Resource Type

Learning Activity

Resource Provider

PhET

License Type

Custom

Accessibility

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