Education Technology


Math TODAY Challenge - New Color of Money

Activity Overview

Students will read about the changes in the "new money" and then create a graph to represent various combinations of currency produced. This activity provides an excellent example of discrete, real-world data.

Before the Activity

See the attached Teacher Edition PDF file for notes and guidelines for this activity. The Technology Guide PDF file includes step-by-step calculator instructions with screen shots.

If you are using the TI-Navigator™ Classroom Learning System, see the TI-Navigator Basic Skills Guide PDF file for information on how the system can be integrated into your activity.

During the Activity

Students will:

  • Represent, analyze, and generalize a variety of patterns with tables, graphs, words, and, when possible, symbolic rules.
  • Develop a deeper understanding of very large and very small numbers and of various representations of them.
  • Generalize patterns using explicitly defined and recursively defined functions.
  • For bivariate data, be able to display a scatter plot, describe its shape, and determine regression coefficients, regression equations, and correlation coefficients using technological tools.


  • Directions:
  • Distribute the Student Edition PDF file to your class.
  • Follow the activity procedures outlined in the student document.
  • You may use the Transparency PDF file to display a large image of the USA TODAY graphic during the activity.
  • After the Activity

    Distribute the assessment questions or send the attached LearningCheck™ assessment to your class to gauge student understanding of the concepts presented in the activity.