Graphs
(Graphs of Direct Variation)
Tutorial Flipchart
Center: #4
Developed by: Lisa Waddell
Calcasieu Alternative School
GLEs:
GLE 7. Use proportional reasoning to model and solve real-life problems involving direct variation.
GLE 38. Identify and describe the characteristics of families of linear functions.
Introduction:
What is direct variation and why is it considered a family of graphs? In this activity you will review the slope, the basics
of graphing and research direct variation. In this learning center, you will apply the knowledge you gain by creating a
tutorial flip chart with your team members after you have explored families of graphs of direct variation.
Big Question: How can what you’ve learned about direct variation equations help you plan your senior trip?
Task:
Your graduating class is planning a senior trip. The class has been given the freedom to choose between one of three
road trips. Many of the students despise road trips therefore the trip with the least amount of time in the vehicle may
be the most favorable. But then again, is final destination of greater importance?
Your task is to investigate families of graphs known as direct variation by first researching topics that are stated below,
capturing images and taking notes. Then you will work individually and together to create a presentation using
ActivInspire flipchart which shows and applies the concepts you’ve learned.
Process:
To accomplish this task, you and your team will complete the following step-by-step instructions:
1. As a team, discuss the slope of a line, graphing lines, and the family of linear graphs that intersect the origin.
2. Individual team members will gather resources and/ or investigate your area of expertise to complete your
individual portion of this task …
 Member 1: Your role is to research how to find the slope of a line and how to graph a line using its slope
and y-intercept. Go to http://www.math.com/school/subject2/lessons/S2U4L1GL.html
 Member 2: Your role is to research direct variation and to find real world applications of direct variation
graphs. Go to http://www.freemathhelp.com/direct-variation.html
http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/direct-variation-algebra.html
 Member 3: Your role is to research direct variation graphs having a positive and negative constant of
variation. Go to http://www.ehow.com/how_8354134_graph-equations-functions-direct-variation.html
 Member 4: Your role is to research the three different destinations listed on the Direct Variation
Assignment Sheet for the class trip and compute the total roundtrip miles. Go to
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
3. As a team, it is time to collaborate to complete the Direct Variation Assignment Sheet and to build your tutorial
flipchart. Each member will be responsible for at least two pages of the flipchart. Go to
http://www.ehow.com/how_7671847_create-promethean-flip-charts.html .
 Member 1: You are responsible for at least the first two pages of the flipchart. Your two pages should
include how to find the slope of a line and how to graph a line using its slope and y-intercept.
 Member 2: Your pages of the flip chart should include the definition of direct variation and examples of
real world applications.
Member 3: Your flipchart pages should includes examples of equations having a positive and negative
constant of variation. It should also include examples of their corresponding graphs.
 Member 4: Your flipchart pages should include the findings of the three destinations for the class trip.
You should also create a title page for the project.
4. As a team, review final project for accuracy. Be sure to include a title page for your flipchart and be sure that all
team members are acknowledged on a credits page at the end for their work.
5. Save your project using one team member’s first.lastname plus the hour (ex. jane.doe_3rd)
6. Save the final project to your group folder on the desktop.

Evaluation:
See attached Rubric.
Reflective Question or Constructive Response:
Upon completion of this learning center, you should be able recognize and graph direct variation equations ant to
determine how direct variation is applied in the real world.
One of the most common uses of direct variation is the formula for distance, d = r t. In the formula, distance d varies
directly as time t, and the rate r is the constant of variation.
Explain in a paragraph how direct variation equations and their graphs might help you plan your senior trip.
Place the response to your reflective question or constructed response on the back of the Direct Variation Assignment
Sheet.
Adapted from resources found at the following website
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/templates/lesson-template1.htm
Based on a template from The WebQuest Page