Activity Detail

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	Storefront Signs

Activity Overview

Students learn to find area and explore the quadratic function. They compare the areas and patterns of squares within a square.

Before the Activity

See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity

Print pages 71 - 77 from the attached PDF file for your class

Activity Downloads:

(file types)

MathInvesTI30XIISTI34Act08.pdf

During the Activity

Distribute the pages to the class.

Follow the activity procedures:

Draw all possible designs of the square sign in the display window, or construct models using geo boards

Record all possible positions of the hooks from the corners

For each position, determine the area of the four small triangles surrounding the square, the length of one side of the square, and the area of the square

Record the area values in a table

Observe that the results are pairs of squares with the same area [except one value]

Plot a graph of Area versus Distance

Note that the areas get smaller and then get larger

Notice that the differences in the areas of successive squares diminish and then grow again

Observe that the graph is a parabola

Use the graph to determine the area of the largest possible sign and the smallest possible sign

After the Activity

Students complete the Student Activity pages and answer questions.

Review student results

As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging

Re-teach concepts as necessary