Morrison Math

Sinusoidal functions are a staple of Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus but the modeling problems in the textbooks are always so dry. I can't stand any more weights on a spring or riders on a ferris wheel! I wanted to make a problem that would be more interesting than the classic textbook tropes and I also wanted students to experience data that could be modeled this way. Of course, data is never perfect so the data provided here can be modeled with sine or cosine but no model will completely exact.

This is a project I use with my seniors about mortgage rates. This follows a unit using mortgage formulas, credit scores and their effect, monthly budgeting, etc. Included here is the project, a page of random information I assign to students (salary, interest rate, down payment) and also an Excel file that calculates every correct answer with the given information. All you need to do is put in the information for an individual student and all answers are automatically generated. Students fi