Students draw and measure lines and segments to discover properties of parabolas, specifically that the distance from any point on the parabola is equidistant to the focus and the directrix. They work with parabolas whose vertex is on the origin as well as off the origin and they also with parabolas that open not only up and down, but also to the left and to the right.

Download the attached PDF and look over the information on the first page. Download and distribute the attached student TI-Nspire document (.tns file) and student worksheet for use during the activity. A TI-Nspire solution document containing expected student results is also available for download.

Discuss the material from the activity pages and worksheet with students as needed.

Encourage students to summarize what they have learned from completing the activity.