Graphing Quadratics
Overview:
This is a culminating activity on the basics of graphing parabolas. Students should be able to graph
quadratics in y=ax², y= ax²+c, and y= ax²+bx+c form by hand or graphing calculator. Students should also
be able to create tables of values. They should be aware of vertex, minimum and maximum, width of
opening, axis of symmetry and how to find each. Students will use www.glogster.com to create an
interactive poster. They will need a graph and table of each type of quadratic stating the parabolas
features and identifying the vertex and axis of symmetry on the graph and the vertex on the table (if
possible). Finally they will need to include three real life examples of parabolas; they can be images,
videos, etc.
Websites: www.glogster.com,
http://my.hrw.com/math06_07/nsmedia/tools/Graph_Calculator/graphCalc.html www.youtube.com
www.google.com
Programs: Microsoft Paint
This activity meets the following common core standards A-CED 1, A-CED 2, F-IF9, F-IF4, F-LE3
Procedure:
You can use the following prezi just to refresh the topics http://prezi.com/klxig3kfhefj/graphingquadratic-equations
Students will use the online graphing calculator to graph their quadratic equations. It is important to
remind them to use various values of a, some positive, negative, etc. It is very important that they
calculate the vertex by hand. The online graphing calculator will not always show the vertex in the table;
therefore students should take their calculations for the vertex and set the parameters for the table on
the site appropriately.
Once the graph and table is created use the print screen feature and paste the image in Paint. In paint
students can crop the images for the graph and the table separately. They can also use the text feature
in paint to make notes and descriptions about the parabolas.
Using the images from paint upload the images to www.golgster.com
You may want to provide each group/student specific quadratic equations
When making the interactive poster it is important that the teacher “plays” with glogster in advance.
Students should also have three examples of real life applications of parabolas they can be from
YouTube, or images from Google.
Graphing Quadratics by Steve Durant and Roosevelt High School, Wyandotte School District is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Graphing Quadratics
Helpful Notes:
−𝑏
𝑏2 −4𝑎𝑐
))
4𝑎
The vertex can be found by( 2𝑎 , −(
The axis of symmetry is the x coordinate of the vertex If a>0 the parabola opens up and the vertex is a
minimum
If a<0 the parabola opens down and the vertex is a maximum
If |a|<1 the parabola is a wide opening
If |a|>1 the parabola is a skinny opening
Video Tutorials
http://www.schooltube.com/video/746a92b6c5d6442a9e97/Glogster-Tutorial
http://youtu.be/wHUzSrKwa8A - how to crop in paint
Sample
http://www.glogster.com/jedidurant/sample-quadratics/g-6ldes7rvjcubfol4u58eqa0
Graphing Quadratics by Steve Durant and Roosevelt High School, Wyandotte School District is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Graphing Quadratics
For this activity you will be using several Web 2.0 tools, Microsoft Paint, and what you have
learned about graphing parabolas to create an interactive poster board. You will create 3
quadratic equations (y=ax², y= ax²+c, and y= ax²+bx+c) complete with a table of values. For
each equation and table you will identify the vertex, state how the parabola opens, type of vertex
and the equation of the axis on symmetry.
−𝑏
Step 1: Calculate each equations vertex by using the vertex formula( 2𝑎 , −(
𝑏2 −4𝑎𝑐
4𝑎
))
Step 2: Go to http://my.hrw.com/math06_07/nsmedia/tools/Graph_Calculator/graphCalc.html
and type in your equation. Before you hit graph, be sure to adjust you table settings. Sometimes
the vertex is not a very nice point.
Step 3: Hit Print Screen
Step 4: Open Microsoft Paint and paste your screen. In paint you can crop your photo to have
just the graph, cut this, paste in a new paint file
Step 5: Draw and label the axis of symmetry and vertex in your graph using the drawing and text
tools in paint
Step 6: Repeat Step 4-5 but crop the table and identify the vertex. In this step also use the text
tool to describe the parabolas vertex, opening, etc.
Step 7: Repeat Steps 1-6 for the other two parabolas
Be sure to save each image because you are going to use them again
Step 8: Go to www.glogster.com and start to create your interactive poster board. Take time and
get to learn the Web 2.0 tool. Please have each of the two pictures of your three parabolas
Step 9: Find real life examples of parabolas and include them on your Glog. They can be
YouTube videos, images, etc. of parabolas or parabolic motion
Step 10: Be sure to send/write down the link to your teacher
Graphing Quadratics by Steve Durant and Roosevelt High School, Wyandotte School District is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Graphing Quadratics
Video Tutorials
http://www.schooltube.com/video/746a92b6c5d6442a9e97/Glogster-Tutorial
http://youtu.be/wHUzSrKwa8A - how to crop in paint
Graphing Quadratics by Steve Durant and Roosevelt High School, Wyandotte School District is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.