Education Technology


Finite Differences

Activity Overview

Students will understand patterns, relations. and functions using mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships.

Before the Activity

Provide each student with a copy of the attached .pdf document.

During the Activity

Students will:

  • Analyze differences in a set of data to determine the degree of the polynomial that will fit the data.
  • Copy lists and use the "change in list" command to analyze change.
  • Set up and examine scatter plots to determine the degree of the polynomial that will fit the data.
  • After the Activity

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