All About STEM

Looking at complex functions can be scary, but understanding where they come from and how they relate to each other can help! Using common parent functions, students will practice function transformations, specifically shifting, by both graphing and writing equations. The concept of a "family tree" is used to show students that functions can be related, but also unique individuals. Given a graph of the original function, students will draw four "family members" or transformations: shift up,

Using what they already know about derivatives and curve sketching vocabulary, students will be guided through a team discovery of how to interpret the graph of a derivative! All they need is one graphing calculator per group and a few colored pencils or highlighters! Students will use technology to aid in the sketching of three functions and will be asked to identify the following for each function: Intervals where positive/negativeIntervals of increasing/decreasingIntervals of concave up/con

Piecewise functions are sometimes intimidating to students, but they don't have to be! In this activity, students will collaborate and discover that piecewise functions are simply combinations of parent functions they already know! Using transparent patty paper and colored parent graphs, students will design and write their own piecewise function, guided every step along the way. This file includes teacher notes with a prep list, student supply list, and prerequisite knowledge. The student act

Parent graphs are common, relatively simple functions that are used frequently in math (and the majority of other function are created through transformations of these twelve). Asking students to memorize twelve graphs and traits for each can be overwhelming. To help my students better learn these graphs, they create their own book about the parent graphs. Each page includes a place for the original function, common points on the graph, a sketch, and a description that includes domain, range,