Activity Detail
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Box It Up (A Graphical Look)
 


Activity Overview

Students graph the relationship between the length of the sides of the cut-out squares and the volume of the resulting box. They trace the graph to decide the best square-size which can result in a box of maximum volume.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 97 - 106 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:
  • Define the relationship between box height and volume in terms of two variables
  • Define the coordinates plane and set the window limits
  • Find the volume for different values of height
  • Graph a plot of the volume of the box versus the size of the cut-out squares
  • Trace the graph to locate a point which gives the largest y-coordinate
  • Record the x-coordinates of points immediately to the left and to the right of the point found above
  • Note that the best value of the size of the square lies between the two x-values
  • Zoom to a section of the graph to get a better estimate of the value

    		After the Activity

    		Students complete the Questions sheet.

    Review student results:
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary

    		Other Downloads




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    view textbook alignment

    Subject Area:
    Math : Algebra I : Polynomial Functions

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    5-8

    Activity Time:
    100 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-83, TI-83 Plus Family, TI-84 Plus Family

    Apps:
     

    Software:
     

    Accessories:
     

    Other:
    This is Activity 10 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Graphing Calculator Activities for Enriching Middle School Mathematics



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