Education Technology


St. Louis Curves or Arch? You Pick!

Activity Overview

Students explore curve fitting and translations of the parabola.

Before the Activity

Show students a picture of the St. Louis Arch. Discuss the shape and how the parabola is sometimes used to approximate the shape.

During the Activity

Each student should submit an equation to fit the curve of the St. Louis Arch.
The teacher should clear the activity data and click on one of the arrows above, below or to the sides of the grid. Have students submit new equations. Discuss and repeat as nessessary.

After the Activity

Review student answers:

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