Bunker

Hill Community College Mathematics Department

Graphing
Calculator
Activities
MAT 099 Intermediate Algebra

Graphing Calculator Activities

Instructors Guide
Chapter/Focus

Objective
Notes
Graphing Calculator Scavenger Hunt

Students will become familiar with various
functions on the graphing calculator.
Students will learn how to graph a linear
equation using the graphing calculator.
Using the Graph to Evaluate X-Values

Using the graphing calculator, students will
learn how to use a graph of a function to find
a y-value for a given x.

Ch. 10 Polynomials:
Operations

10.3 Introduction to
Polynomials
Ch. 11 Polynomials:
What is the Connection between Solving by
Factoring
Factoring and X-intercepts?

Through discovery, students will make
11.7 Solving Quadratic
connections between the solution of a
Equations by Factoring
quadratic equation by factoring and the x-
intercepts or zeroes of a graph.
Students will learn how find x-intercepts of a
graph using a graphing calculator.
Ch. 12 Polynomials:
The Golden Ratio
Rational Expressions
Students will explore the golden ratio, as a
and Equations
constant in an equation of direct variation.

Students will learn how to create a linear
12.9 Direct Variation
regression equation using the graphing
and Inverse Variation
calculator.

Ch. 14 Radical
Expressions and
Equations

14.5 Radical Equations
Ch. 15 Quadratic
Equations

Solving Radical Equations

Students will solve radical equations by
graphing with the graphing calculator.
Students will discover that they can check
solutions that were solved algebraically, by
using the graphing calculator.
Graphing Quadratic Equations.
Through discovery, students will make a
connection between quadratic equations
and parts of a parabola.
Students will learn how to find the vertex of
a parabola using the graphing calculator.

**Students should
have learned how to
solve quadratic
equations by factoring
before doing this
activity.

**Each team will need

a tape measure.
**The instructor will
need to help students
make a connection
that a direct variation
relationship, such as
in this case, is a
special linear function
with y intercept 0.
**Students should
have learned how to
solve radical
equations
algebraically before
doing this activity.
**Students should do
this activity before the
instructor teaches
Section 15.6.

Graphing Calculator Activities

TI-83 Plus

Graphing Calculator Activities

Graphing Calculator Scavenger Hunt

1. Press

Name: ______________________

2nd , + , ENTER . What is the ID# of your calculator? ____________________

2. For help, what website can you visit? _________________________________________

ENTER. You should see the same number in the display.

Now type the number 9,876,543,210,987,654, then ENTER. Is the identical number
3. Type the number 1234, then
displayed? ________
nd

nd

nd

4. What happens to the screen when you push 2 , , 2 , , 2 , .

________________________________________________________________________.
nd
Press 2 and then hold down . Describe what happens: _______________________.

^ is called the "caret" button, and is used to raise a number to a power. Find 65 = _____
2
To square a number press the number, x and ENTER . What is 562? _______
To cube a number, press the number, MATH , select option 3 and press ENTER . What
5.

is 363? ___________
Press 2 , MATH and choose option 5, then press 1 , 6 and ENTER.
What did this option do? __________________________________________________

Y= . Clear any equations that are present. Next we enter the

equation by positioning the cursor beside Y1= and press 2 , X,T,,n .
6. Equations: y = 2x. Press

To create a table:

2nd , WINDOW (which takes you into the Table Set window). Set the TblStart = -2
nd
and Tbl = 1 (this adds 1 to the preceding x-value). To display the table, we press 2 ,
GRAPH (which takes you the Table window).
Press

What is the value of Y1, when X is 6? ________________

Graphing Calculator Activities

To create a graph:

Y= . Make sure that the Plot1, Plot2, Plot 3 at the top of the screen are not
highlighted. If they are, move the cursor to the one that is highlighted and press ENTER .
That will un-highlight it. Press ZOOM , 6 to select a standard viewing window and display
Press

the graph.
Draw the graph:

7. Enter (-2)2 into the calculator, what answer did you get? ___________
Now enter 22 into the calculator, what answer did you get this time? ________
Why do you think you got two different answers? ______________________________

Graphing Calculator Activities

Chapter 10 Polynomials: Operations

Using the Graph to Evaluate Y-Values
This activity corresponds to Section 10.3 in the textbook, Calculator Corner p. 758.
To evaluate the polynomial x2 3x + 1, when x = -4, we must first graph y1= x2 3x + 1 (See
nd
previous graphing calculator activity). We will use the standard window. Then press 2 , TRACE
(which is actually the CALC function) and select option 1. This will prompt you to enter the x value
that you wish to evaluate. Press (-) , 4 , ENTER . The corresponding y value, -3 should come up.

Use this process to evaluate each polynomial for the given values of x.

Polynomial Equation





y = -x2 3x + 1
x = -2, y = ________
x = -0.5, y = ________





y = 3x2 5x + 2
x = -3, y = ________
x = 1, y = ________






2
y = 5 - x
x = -3, y = ________
x = -1, y = ________






y = 6x3 6x
x = -1, y = ________
x = -0.5, y = ________

x = 4, y = ________


x = 2.6, y = ________


x = 1.5, y = ________


x = 1.1, y = ________

Graphing Calculator Activities

Chapter 11 Polynomials: Factoring

What is the connection between solving by factoring and x-
intercepts?
This activity corresponds to Section 11.7 in the textbook, Calculator Corner p. 880. In this activity,
you will:
1. Solve each quadratic equation using the factoring method
2. Graph each quadratic function using the graphing calculator (previous graphing calculator
activity). In order to graph, you must make sure each equation is written with 0 on one
side. For example, in #2, you will need to first subtract 6x and add 9 to both sides of the
equation before you can enter the function in the graphing calculator. When graphing, use
the standard window.
3. Find the x-intercepts for the graph. The x-intercepts of the graph are also known as the
zeroes. After you graph the function, we use the ZERO feature from the CALC menu to find
nd

the x-intercepts. Press 2 , TRACE (which is actually the CALC function) and select option
2: zero. The prompt Left Bound? appears. We use the < or > key to move the cursor
to the left of the intercept and press ENTER . Now the prompt Right Bound? appears.
Then we move the cursor to the right of the intercept and press ENTER . The prompt
Guess? appears. We move the cursor close to the intercept and press ENTER again. The
coordinates of the x-intercept or zeros should appear. This is one solution of the equation.
We can repeat this procedure to find the other x-intercept.
Solve by Factoring
1. x2 - x - 6 = 0

Graph the original function

What are the x-intercepts?

Graphing Calculator Activities

Solve by Factoring
2. x2 = 6x 9

Graph the original function

What are the x-intercepts?

3. x2 - 4x = 0

4. 9x2 = 16

Graphing Calculator Activities

5. -2x2 + 13x - 21 = 0

Do you notice any connection between the solutions when you solve by factoring, the graph, and
the x-intercepts?
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Graphing Calculator Activities

Chapter 12 Rational Expressions and Equations

The Golden Ratio
This activity corresponds to Section 12.9 in the textbook. In this activity, you will be divided up into
pairs and each of you will help your partner with his/her measurements.
1. Measure and record the following.
Name

List 1

List 2

Your Height, cm

Height from floor to naval, cm

Index finger, cm

Length of leg, cm

Index finger tip to 2nd knuckle,

cm
Leg from hip to knee, cm

Length of arm, cm

Middle finger to elbow, cm

Height of head, chin to top, cm

Chin to top of ear, cm

Top of head to pupil, cm

Pupil to bottom of lower lip, cm

Height of head, chin to top, cm

Width of head, cm

Tip of nose to chin, cm

Top of nose to chin, cm

Tip of nose to chin, cm

Pupil to tip of nose, cm

Width of nose, cm

Tip of nose to upper lip, cm

2. You will now use this data to construct a line of best fit, using the graphing calculator.

Entering the data:
Press STAT and choose option 1: Edit. You will enter your data in this screen. Before that,
you must clear any data that is already there. Use the cursor and highlight L1. Press

CLEAR , ENTER . Do the same for L2.

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Graphing Calculator Activities

Then enter your measurements from List 1 in column L1. Each time you enter a number you
must press ENTER . Next enter your measurements from List 2 in the graphing calculator
in column L2.
Graphing the data:
Press 2nd , Y= (which is the STAT PLOT function) and select 1:Plot 1. On the next screen,
set up the plot as shown.

To view in the appropriate window, press ZOOM and choose 9:ZoomStat.

Finding a linear regression:
In order to calculate the regression line, you must be in the home screen which you can get
to by pressing 2

nd

, MODE . Press STAT and use the cursor to highlight CALC. Then you

will want to choose option 4:LinReg (ax+b).

Next press 2nd , 1 (which will actually give you L1) Then press in , , 2nd , 2 (which
will actually give you L2) and ENTER . This will give you the linear regression equation in
the form y = ax + b.

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Graphing Calculator Activities

To graph the regression line:

In order to graph the regression line, press Y= ,(making sure you clear any equations that
are already there). Press VARS , select 5:Statistics, use your cursor to highlight EQ, and
choose 1:RegEQ. The regression equation you found should have been automatically
entered for the equation Y1. Press GRAPH and the regression will be graphed on the
same screen as your scatter plot.

3. Please sketch your scatter plot and regression line. Also, give the equation for your
regression line.

Regression Line Equation: _____________________________________

What is the slope & y-intercept of this line?

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Graphing Calculator Activities

Chapter 14 Radical Expressions and Equations

Solving Radical Equations
This activity corresponds to Section 14.5 in the textbook, Calculator Corner p. 1081. Students will
use the graphing calculator to solve or check solutions to radical equations.
Consider the equation 5 = + 7. First, we will solve it algebraically, using the methods from
Section 14.5.








Now we will check our solutions using the graphing calculator. We first graph each side of the
equation. Enter y1 = x 5 and y2 = + 7. Instead of using a standard window, we will adjust the
window so we can see the solution to the graph. Press WINDOW and use the window [-2, 12, -
6, 6].
Xmin = -2
Xmax = 12
Xscl = 1
Ymin = -6
Ymax = 6
Yscl = 1
Xres = 1

Then press GRAPH to see the graph of the two equations.

In order to find the point of intersection, we will use the INTERSECT feature. Press 2

nd

, TRACE ,

(which is the CALC function) and select 5:intersect. The query First curve? appears on the screen.
The blinking cursor should already be positioned on the graph of y1. We press ENTER to indicate
that this is the first curve involved in the intersection. Next, the query, Second curve? appears
and the blinking cursor should be positioned on the graph of y2. We press ENTER to indicate that

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Graphing Calculator Activities

this is the second curve. Now it asks, Guess?, so use the or keys to move the cursor
close to the point of intersection and press ENTER The coordinates of the point of intersection
should appear at the bottom of the screen. Thus the solution of the equation is (9, 4). Note that
the graph shows a single solution, whereas the algebraic solution yields two possible solutions, 9
and 2, that must be checked. The check shows that 9 is the only solution.
Solve the following equations first algebraically, then with the graphing calculator:
1. Solve 1 = + 5

Sketch the graph:

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Graphing Calculator Activities

2. Solve 3 + 27 3 =

Sketch the graph:

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Graphing Calculator Activities

Chapter 15 Quadratic Equations

This activity corresponds to Section 15.6 in the textbook. In this activity, you will investigate
various parts of a parabola, such as the vertex and how these parts relate to a quadratic equation in
the form, = ! + + .
For each equation, first identify a, b, & c. Then calculate =

and substitute back into the

equation to find y.
Then use the graphing calculator to draw a sketch of the graph (we learned how to do this in a
previous activity). Next indicate on the table whether the graph opens up or down.
Use the graphing calculator to find the vertex of the graph. To find the vertex, you must first
determine if you are looking for a maximum or minimum, depending on whether the graph opens
up or down. Press 2

nd

, TRACE , (which is the CALC function) and select 3:minimum (if the graph

opens up) or select 4:maximum (if the graph opens down). Then the calculator will give a prompt,
Left Bound? Use the or keys to move the cursor to the left of the vertex and press

ENTER . The calculator will give a prompt, Right Bound? Use the or keys to move the
cursor to the right of the vertex and press ENTER . Now it asks, Guess?, so use the or
keys to move the cursor close to the point of intersection and press ENTER . The calculator will
give you either the minimum or maximum, which is the vertex of the parabola.
Quadratic Equation
= ! + +

1. What is a, b, and c?

Graph

Opens
up or
down?

Vertex from
the graphing
calculator

2. Find =

3. Use the x value you found to

find the y-value, by
substituting in the equation.
= ! 3

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Graphing Calculator Activities

Quadratic Equation
= ! + +

4. What is a, b, and c?

Graph

Opens
up or
down?

Vertex from
the graphing
calculator

5. Find =

6. Use the x value you found to

find the y-value, by
substituting in the equation.
= 3 ! + 6

= ! 4 + 4

= 5 !

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Graphing Calculator Activities

What observations or connections can you make between the quadratic equation, its graph, vertex
and =

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