Brief Description

You will need to have access to Cox Ed Net to do this lesson.
This activity provides an opportunity for students to study piecewise functions by gathering their own data. The students will analyze how the distance between two people (standing at adjacent corners) change as the people walk towards each other around the perimeter of a square. By measuring, recording and graphing the distances in Excel, students will determine the piecewise function that describes the graph of the distances. After the students have studied this scenario, they are asked to analyze a situation in which two people stand at adjacent corners of a square, but face the same direction. Students must determine the change in distance of the two people as they walk around the perimeter. Students will use SchoolKit Rex within CoxEdNet. Meets Arizona State Technology Standard 1.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

• 1T-P1. Use the appropriate technology device to complete a task.

• 1M-P2. Construct, interpret and demonstrate meaning for real numbers and absolute value in problem-solving situations.
• 2M-P2. Use appropriate technology (e.g., graphing calculators, computer software) to display and analyze data.
• 3M-P1. Model real-world phenomena using functions and relations.
• 3M-P2. Represent and analyze relationships using written and verbal explanations, tables, equations, graphs and matrices and describe the connections among those representations.

Academic

• Students will use their knowledge of linear functions to find an equation of a piecewise function.
• Students will examine the first data to predict how the second problems data will behave.
• Students will evaluate their answer to the problem using a written explanation.

• Students will use a software program to help them solve a problem.
• Students will use Excel to put in data and explore piecewise graphs.

The students need to know how to:

• Open Explorer.
• Type a URL.
• Use the mouse.
• Minimize/maximize windows
• Move a window
• Toggle between windows

• Tape to mark a square on the floor.
• Student Handout
• Assessment Rubric
• Computer with access to Explorer, Cox Ed Net and/or School KitRex (Arizona schools should have access to this).

Reach/gifted students: These students can use their knowledge and creativity in the graph. They can come up with ideas on how the graphs would look for different shapes, or if one person moved twice as far as the other.

SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) students: Teacher will read through the handout and explain the rubric for all students at the beginning of the lesson. These students would be distributed throughout the groups. Students within the group could help read the directions. Directions could be put on tape for the student to listen to.

Special Education Students:  Teacher will read through the handout and explain the rubric for all students at the beginning of the lesson. These students can sit next to or be grouped with strong readers. They can contribute verbally in their group. Directions could be put on tape for the student to listen to.

Procedures

NOTE: Make sure all students have their CoxEdNet password, or you should have a copy of the passwords for the class. You will need to check if SchoolKIt Rex is installed: To check:

1. In Windows, click on the Start button and then choose Run....
2. In the Open: box, type skrex and then click OK.
3. If the REX software starts, it is installed on your computer and you can start adding learning modules. If the message 'Cannot find skrex' appears then you need to install the REX software on the computer(s).

 

 

To install:

• Open Internet Explorer
• Type in the URL: http://coxednet.org
• Type in your UserName, Subscription ID (amphs for Amphi High School), and Password then click Login
• Click continue at the Plug ins
• On the CEN desktop, find Base Math and click on SK Math 3
• Follow the directions for downloading SchoolKit Rex.

• Students will follow the directions in the handout to open the program.
• Students will need to mark an 80-inch square on the floor with tape to help them figure out the data (or use 80 cm square and markers)
• They will follow the directions in the handout and the program itself to find and analyze the distance between two people as they walk towards each other around the square.
• The program guides them on how to use Excel if they have not used this before.
• Students will need to find the equations for each piece of the graph. They will put the pieces together to find the equation of the piecewise function.
• Students discuss their answer to the problem and answer the questions in the handout.
• The students will analyze the next problem when both people go in the same direction.

• Students will print out their graphs.
• Students will fill in the self-assessment worksheet.