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  • Wolfram - Alpha Activity - Topic, Linear Functions - Intermediate Algebra Activity 2

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    Technology is an important part of learning mathematics. For decades, graphing calculators were the primary tool used to accomplish this. Upon completion of college, however, students rarely use or see the need for these devices. A growing trend exists instead towards computers, smart phones and other devices running Internet software that has become extremely powerful, easy to use and low-cost or free of charge. Effective mathematics instruction should keep up with this trend by incorporating these types of programs. It will benefit students three ways: (1) introduce students to the latest tools of science and technology; (2) provide students with life skills that are more likely to apply to the real world; and (3) reinforce concepts of the mathematics involved in their coursework. Wolfram|Alpha represents one of the most exciting, broadly applicable, powerful and easy to use of all the computational programs available. About one-third of the questions in these Intermediate Algebra activities teach input and command syntax; one-third emphasizes answer interpretation; and one-third reinforces the concepts and material of Intermediate Algebra. The projects are meant to be started after finishing the corresponding chapter(s) in the students' textbook.

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    Technology is an important part of learning mathematics. For decades, graphing calculators were the primary tool used to accomplish this. Upon completion of college, however, students rarely use or see the need for these devices. A growing trend exists instead towards computers, smart phones and other devices running Internet software that has become extremely powerful, easy to use and low-cost or free of charge. Effective mathematics instruction should keep up with this trend by incorporating these types of programs. It will benefit students three ways: (1) introduce students to the latest tools of science and technology; (2) provide students with life skills that are more likely to apply to the real world; and (3) reinforce concepts of the mathematics involved in their coursework. Wolfram|Alpha represents one of the most exciting, broadly applicable, powerful and easy to use of all the computational programs available. About one-third of the questions in these Intermediate Algebra activities teach input and command syntax; one-third emphasizes answer interpretation; and one-third reinforces the concepts and material of Intermediate Algebra. The projects are meant to be started after finishing the corresponding chapter(s) in the students' textbook.

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    612 views2 pages

    Wolfram - Alpha Activity - Topic, Linear Functions - Intermediate Algebra Activity 2

    Uploaded by

    Pearson Math Stats
    Technology is an important part of learning mathematics. For decades, graphing calculators were the primary tool used to accomplish this. Upon completion of college, however, students rarely use or see the need for these devices. A growing trend exists instead towards computers, smart phones and other devices running Internet software that has become extremely powerful, easy to use and low-cost or free of charge. Effective mathematics instruction should keep up with this trend by incorporating these types of programs. It will benefit students three ways: (1) introduce students to the latest tools of science and technology; (2) provide students with life skills that are more likely to apply to the real world; and (3) reinforce concepts of the mathematics involved in their coursework. Wolfram|Alpha represents one of the most exciting, broadly applicable, powerful and easy to use of all the computational programs available. About one-third of the questions in these Intermediate Algebra activities teach input and command syntax; one-third emphasizes answer interpretation; and one-third reinforces the concepts and material of Intermediate Algebra. The projects are meant to be started after finishing the corresponding chapter(s) in the students' textbook.

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    of 2

    Linear Functions 1 Intermediate Algebra

    Activities Using WA

    WA Activity # 2  ‐‐  Linear Functions 
     
    Type "solve 3‐2(‐3x‐7)=4+13x” into the WA search engine. Use the results to answer the 
    following questions. 
    1.  What is the exact answer in the form of a fraction? What is the exact answer in the form of a 
    mixed number? What is the approximate answer, rounded off to four places past the decimal 
    point? 
    2.  Click on the “Show steps” link.  Would you use the same steps to solve the problem, or 
    would you do something different? Explain.  
    3. Look at the Plot. What does the blue line represent? How do you know? What does the red 
    line represent? How do you know? What does the red dot represent? 
    4.  What happens when you click on the “More digits” link? What is the approximate answer, 
    rounded off to six places past the decimal point? 
      
    Type “line through (‐4,‐8) and (4,2)” into the WA search engine. Use the results to answer the 
    following questions. 
    5. What is the equation of the line in slope‐intercept form? What is the equation of the line in 
    standard form? Does WA give the standard form where the leading coefficient is positive? If not 
    give that form of the equation as well. 
    6. What is the slope of the line? 
    7. Name three additional pairs of input‐output points for the line. 
    8. If you weren’t given the x‐intercept how would you find it? 
    9. If you weren’t given the y‐intercept how would you find it? 
    10. If you weren’t given the distance between the two points how would you find it? 
    11. Type “evaluate (5/4)x ‐ 3 for x = ‐10 to 10” into the WA search engine. What is the result? 
     
    Type “linear fit {(2,5.17),(4,7.9),(6, 14.03),(11, 22.8)}” into the WA search engine. Use the 
    results to answer the following questions. 
    12. Let f be the line of best fit through these points. What is the equation of f? 
    13. What is the slope of the function f? 
    14. WA shows the plot of the function f. The plot has a horizontal axis at the bottom. This is 
    usually the x‐axis or the line y = 0. What is the equation of this horizontal line in WA? The plot 
    has a vertical axis on the left‐hand side. This is usually the y‐axis or the line x = 0. What is the 
    equation of this vertical line in WA? 
    Linear Functions 2 Intermediate Algebra
    Activities Using WA

    15. What do the orange dots represent? What are the coordinates of the first point, the one at 
    the end on the left? What are the coordinates of the next point? 
    16. Approximate the x‐intercept of the function f. How did you get your answer? 
    17. Approximate the y‐intercept of the function f. How did you get your answer? 

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