Education Technology


Algebra 1: Inverse Variation

by Texas Instruments

Overview

Students explore the inverse variation function with a geometric representation (a rectangle with fixed area), a table of values, an algebraic expression, and a graph.

Key Steps

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    In this activity, students investigate inverse variation. They enter given ordered data pairs into lists L1 and L2.

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    They create a scatter plot of the data using Plot1. Students learn that the relationship when x and y have a constant product is called inverse variation.

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    In list L3, students enter the formula L1*L2. This multiplies the x-values by the y-values.

    As students view the function table, they should see that the function is undefined at x = 0. They should also see that the negative x-values have the same y-values, although negative, as the positive x-values.