APPENDIX E
SAMPLE ACTIVITY ON LINEAR EQUATIONS USING SPREADSHEETS
SPREADSHEET ACTIVITY: LINEAR GRAPHS AND SLOPE
Objectives:
·
Using the
spreadsheets, students will identify the slope of the linear equation using its
equation.
·
Students will
examine the effects when the values of the slope and the y-intercept change.
·
Students will
offer a verbal description on the interpretation and the uses that may have the
linear equations and slope in other fields.
1.
Consider the
following linear equation: y =
3x – 5
Use spreadsheets and the suggested values to
complete the table below,
|
|
A |
B |
|
1 |
x |
y |
|
2 |
-3 |
|
|
3 |
-2 |
|
|
4 |
-1 |
|
|
5 |
0 |
|
|
6 |
1 |
|
|
7 |
2 |
|
|
8 |
3 |
|
Then, construct the graph. Please, provide a
printout of your work.
|
The value of the slope and the y
intercept are: |
|
|
Describe the inclination of the straight
line: |
|
|
In two or more sentences, briefly describe the
relation that you can find between the inclination of the straight line and
its slope. |
|
2.
Now, let examine
what happens when the values of slope and y intercept change. In this case, let take a bigger values to
the slope and y intercept. Consider for example the following equation:
y = 8x + 10
Using spreadsheets, complete the table below:
|
|
A |
B |
|
1 |
x |
y |
|
2 |
-3 |
|
|
3 |
-2 |
|
|
4 |
-1 |
|
|
5 |
0 |
|
|
6 |
1 |
|
|
7 |
2 |
|
|
8 |
3 |
|
Draw the graph of this new equation in the same
Cartesian coordinates axes.
|
The value of the slope and the y
intercept are: |
|
Briefly describe what you can observe between
these two graphics.
|
|
There is a common point between both graphs? If
so, determine the coordinates of this point.
|
|
3.
Let explore now,
how if the linear graph when its slope is not a positive value. In this case, the slope could be negative or
inclusive, zero.
Suggest one value for the slope and other for
the y intercept:
|
y
= |
|
x
+ |
|
Using spreadsheets, construct your own
table of values. The following table can help you. If you want, you can add
some values.
|
|
A |
B |
|
1 |
x |
y |
|
2 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
The value of the slope and the y
intercept are: |
|
Using spreadsheets, construct the graph of your
own linear equation, and answer the following questions:
What is your idea about what slope is?
|
|
Which is the biggest difference that you
observed between the linear graph with positive slope and with negative slope?
Explain.
|
|
Do you think that a slope could be bigger than
other? How you can graphically show it? Use spreadsheets to justify your
answer.
|
|
From your major or from a situation of the
daily life, offer a description on tendencies that can be classified as linear.
Explain your answer.
|
|