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Precalculus: Parent Functions and Transformations Day 1 - Parent Functions

The document summarizes two days of a precalculus lesson on parent functions and transformations. On day 1, students play a guessing game using parent function graphs to learn their key features. The teacher projects the game and encourages mathematical language. On day 2, students complete a Desmos activity individually to graph transformed functions using a provided "cheat sheet" explaining function notation. The goal is for students to intuitively understand how transformations affect graphs through trial and error.

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121 views5 pages

Precalculus: Parent Functions and Transformations Day 1 - Parent Functions

The document summarizes two days of a precalculus lesson on parent functions and transformations. On day 1, students play a guessing game using parent function graphs to learn their key features. The teacher projects the game and encourages mathematical language. On day 2, students complete a Desmos activity individually to graph transformed functions using a provided "cheat sheet" explaining function notation. The goal is for students to intuitively understand how transformations affect graphs through trial and error.

Uploaded by

api-306013615
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Precalculus: Parent Functions and Transformations

Day 1 - Parent Functions


Students will be introduced to the parent functions using a Desmos Polygraph game, which they
will access on their Chromebooks. This is sort of like a guess who game, where one student is
given a bunch of graphs. The student chooses one, and then another student is paired up with
them and has to guess the chosen graph by asking only yes/no questions through a chatbox.
The program pairs up different students for each round. Each graph is a graph of one of the
parent functions. Asking questions about these functions provides a chance for students to
notice key features of each.
As students solve the puzzles, I project the teachers screen on the board, which shows current
games (without names) so students can see other questions that might be useful. As I see good
questions, I highlight them, or encourage more mathematical language.
Below is an example of a game played between students (names removed):

Day 2 - Transformation of Functions


Students are introduced to function transformations by graphing different functions and solving
various problems through a Desmos activity designed by me on their Chromebooks. This
activity is done individually and will be done for completion credit. As students work through it I
will be providing assistance and feedback. Desmos allows me to view all of their answers to
each problem.
Students are given a cheat sheet to work on the problems. This sheet explains how
transformations are done in function notation. The students will then have to read the function
notation to determine how to transform each function in the desired manner. Desmos allows
students to enter a function and see its graph. Students can use this trial and error approach in
conjunction with their cheat sheets to develop a graphical and written understanding of the
types of transformations. The overall goal of this activity is to give students an intuitive
understanding of function transformations and why certain inputs into functions have the
graphical effects they do.
Example problems:

Example student responses (names removed)

Sample Question and responses:

Copy of the cheat sheet provided to students:

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