Education Technology


Functions, Graphs, and Limits

Activity Overview

In this activity, students create graphs and tables of values for functions. They can use this graphical and numerical information to explore limits. Students can also evaluate limits directly.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 1 - 14 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:
    Graphing a rational function:

  • Enter the function
  • Plot the graph and compute function values
  • Examine the behavior of a function graphically and numerically


  • Investigating limits:
  • Investigate each limit graphically and numerically
  • Compute a limit as it approaches a particular value by entering the function, variable, and value
  • Investigate limits when the results are infinite, or as a particular value approaches positive or negative infinity
  • After the Activity

    Students will complete the practice exercise problems.

    Review student results:

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