Education Technology

How Cool It Is

Subject Area
Math: Precalculus: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Level
9-12
Activity Time
50 Minutes
Software
TI-Nspire™ CX
TI-Nspire™ CX CAS
TI Calculator
TI-Nspire™ CX/CX II
TI-Nspire™ CX CAS/CX II CAS
TI-Nspire Version
4.5
Resource Types
Lessons

How Cool It Is

Activity Overview

This lesson involves creating an exponential regression equation to model the temperature of water as it cools.

Objectives

  • Students will determine and analyze an exponential model for the temperature of water as it cools.
  • Students will make predictions about the time required to reach various water temperatures and about the water temperature at various times.

Vocabulary

  • exponential function
  • regression equation
  • sum of squares due to error

About the Lesson

This lesson involves creating an exponential regression equation to model the temperature of water as it cools.

As a result, students will:

  • Learn how to adjust their equation to produce an equation that will better model the data.
  • Adjust their equation to incorporate the fact that water will not get cooler than the temperature of the room..
  • Use sliders to change the values of the variables a and b in their model to produce the smallest SSE (the Sum of Squares due to Error) value.

Subject Area
Math: Precalculus: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Level
9-12
Activity Time
50 Minutes
Software
TI-Nspire™ CX
TI-Nspire™ CX CAS
TI Calculator
TI-Nspire™ CX/CX II
TI-Nspire™ CX CAS/CX II CAS
TI-Nspire Version
4.5
Resource Types
Lessons
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