Active Learning Math and Computer Science

This activity is designed to have the students practice finding the inverse of a function for specific values from graphs or tables. In this way students can gain a better understanding of inverse functions. Prerequisites 1. Students have learned the basics of functions 2. Students have learned functional notation 2. Students understand the definition of inverse functions 3. Students know how to read graphs. 4. Students know how to graph by hand 5. Students know to to find the c

Students learn best when discovering patterns on their own. This activity is designed to lead students to discover that logarithms are the inverse of exponential functions. Students are asked to graph the inverse of the graphs of several exponential functions. They are then asked a series of questions that will lead them to discover a new type of function, logarithms! For each graph students are asked to: graph the inverse of the functionfind the equation, domain and range of the original g

This activity is designed to have students practice graphing exponential and log functions. The questions are designed so that students will have to think about the transformations that are taking place. Students are given a series of either exponential or log functions. For each function, they are asked to identify the parent functionto explain in words what transformation of the parent function is taking placeto graph the functionto identify the domain and range of the functionPrerequisites

This activity is designed for students to practice finding the equation of a polynomial graph. It covers polynomials of degrees 2-6. Prerequisites 1. Students have learned the basics of functions 2. Students have learned functional notation 3. Students have been introduced to polynomial functions 4. Students are familiar with the graphs of polynomial functions The Activity Students are simply asked to find the equation of a polynomial function given its graph. In this series of exercises the gra

This handout contains all of the important properties of the eight parent functions. This includes: the equation, domain and range, and a picture of the graph. The parent functions are the main functions that are to be used when students are taught to transform functions: move up, move down, move left, move right, stretch and shrink. Teachers should first have students discover these properties on their own and then give them this handout.

This activity has students practicing adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing functions using function notation. Students are asked to perform these operations from equations, tables and graphs. Giving students the opportunity to combine functions from these three perspectives will enhance students understanding of the undlerlying concepts. Prerequisites Students have learned the basics of functions Students have learned functional notation

This activity is designed to have students practice finding the exponential equations of a series of graphs. It then asks students to find the exponential equation of a function given two points. The questions are designed to test student's understanding of exponential equations from two perspectives, visual and algebraic. Students should be familiar with the following: 1. Students have learned the basics of functions 2. Students have learned functional notation 3. Students understand the b

This activity has students working in groups to evaluate functions. At first they evaluate functions given a value and are asked to find the domain of the function. The functions are in the form of an equation, a table and a graph. In this way students can be helped to understand functions from three different perspectives. Students are also asked to give examples of functions from the real world. By pairing students together in a collaborative atmosphere students not only develop their coll

This activity is designed to have students practice graphing exponential functions. The questions are designed so that students will have to think about the transformations that are taking place. to identify the parent functionto explain in words what transformation of the parent function is taking placeto graph the functionto identify the domain and range of the functionTo identify the new location of the original y-interceptPrerequisites 1. Students have learned the basics of functions 2. St

This activity has students practicing their understanding of functions. Students are asked to identify functions from equations, tables and graphs. They are also asked to evaluate functions from these same three different types of input. By exploring functions from three different perspectives, students gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of functions. Finally students are asked to find a rule for determining whether a graph is a function. Prerequisites: Students have just been introduce

Students learn best when discovering patterns on their own. This activity is designed to lead students to discover that logarithms are the inverse of exponential functions. Students are asked to graph the inverse of the graphs of several exponential functions. They are then asked a series of questions that will lead them to discover a new type of function, logarithms! Students are then given the name of this new function. Students are asked to find the log equation of the inverse of several

This activity has students practicing adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and finding the composition of functions. They are given examples from three different perspectives: tabular form, algebraic form and graphical form. Using these three different forms students can gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Prerequisites Students have learned the basics of functions Students have learned functional notationStudents have learned compositional notationStudents have been introd

This activity is designed to give students practice graphing exponential and log functions. Students are given a series of exponential or log equations and they are asked to graph them. They are also asked to find the domain and range. Prerequisites Students have learned the basics of functions Students understand the basics of graphing a functionStudents have been introduced to exponential functionsStudents have been introduced to the parent functionsStudents have already explored the transfor

This activity is designed for students to practice graphing a polynomial function in factored form. It covers polynomials of degrees 2-6. Prerequisites 1. Students have learned the basics of functions 2. Students have learned functional notation 3. Students have been introduced to polynomial functions 4. Students are familiar with the graphs of polynomial functions The Activity Students are simply asked to graph a polynomial function given its equation in factored form. Students should understa

Students learn math concepts best when discovering mathematical patterns on their own rather than being told by the teacher. This activity is designed to have the students discover how to verify that two functions are inverses of each other Prerequisites 1. Students have learned the basics of functions 2. Students have learned functional notation 3. Students know how read a graph 4.. Students have been introduced the definition of inverse functions 5. Students know how to find the compo

This activity has students practicing adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and finding the composition of functions. They are given examples from three different perspectives: tabular form, algebraic form and graphical form. Using these three different forms students can gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Prerequisites Students have learned the basics of functions Students have learned functional notationStudents have learned compositional notationStudents have been intr

This activity is designed to have the students practice evaluating log expressions and solving log equations. Students should understand the properties of logs. Prerequisites 1. Students have learned the basics of functions 2. Students have been introduced to exponential functions 3. Students have been exposed logs and their properties 4.. Students have been introduced to solving log equations The Activity Students are asked to evaluate log expressions and solve log equations. These practic