Section 2: Scatter Plots

Students run a simulation of how a fire will spread through a stand of trees, learning about probability and chaos. Parameters: Forest density, wind direction, size of forest.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Undergraduate

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Fractions, Modeling, Probability

Related Topics: agent modeling, chaos, conditional probability, experimental probability, iteration, percentages, percents, probability simulation, proportion, simulation, skewed distribution, variance

Students can create box plots for either built-in or user-specified data as well as experiment with outliers. User may choose to use or not use the median for calculation of interquartile range.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Undergraduate

Primary Subjects: Graphs, Statistics

Related Topics: box and whisker, box plot, coordinate plane, data plot, median, outlier, percentages, quartile, range, scale, skewed distribution, statistics

Enter a set of data points, then derive a function to fit those points. Manipulate the function on a coordinate plane using slider bars. Learn how each constant and coefficient affects the resulting graph.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Undergraduate

Primary Subjects: Algebra, Graphs, Modeling, Statistics, Trigonometry

Related Topics: algebra, cartesian coordinate, coordinate, coordinate plane, coordinate system, cosecant, cosine, cotangent, curve fitting, data plot, deviations, exponential, exponents, function properties, functions, graph, grouping, integers, intervals, inverse, linear equations, linear functions, logarithm, multiplication, parabola, polynomial, positive part of the operand, pre-calculus, range, secant, sine, slope, tangent, trigonometry

Students investigate very simple functions by trying to guess the algebraic form from inputs and outputs. Function Machine is one of the Interactivate assessment explorers.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Algebra, Discrete

Related Topics: addition, algebra, arithmetic, assessment, function machine, functions, input, integers, linear equations, multiplication, output, subtraction

Create graphs of functions and sets of ordered pairs on the same coordinate plane. This is like a graphing calculator with advanced viewing options.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Undergraduate

Primary Subjects: Algebra, Calculus, Graphs, Statistics, Trigonometry

Related Topics: algebra, calculus, cartesian coordinate, coordinate, coordinate plane, coordinate system, cosecant, cosine, cotangent, curve fitting, data plot, exponential, exponents, function properties, functions, graph, graph theory, intervals, linear equations, linear functions, logarithm, parabola, polynomial, positive part of the operand, pre-calculus, range, secant, sine, slope, tangent, trigonometry

Review the properties of functions by looking at ten different curves and deciding whether or not they meet the criteria for a graph of a function. This activity simply displays the curves - it does not quiz the user.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Algebra, Discrete

Related Topics: coordinate plane, function properties, functions, graph, linear functions, lines, pre-calculus, vertical line test

Plot a bivariate data set, determine the line of best fit for their data, and then check the accuracy of your line of best fit.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Undergraduate

Primary Subjects: Algebra, Calculus, Graphs, Statistics

Related Topics: calculus, cartesian coordinate, coordinate plane, correlation, curve fitting, data plot, deviations, residual, statistics

Enter two complex numbers (z and c) as ordered pairs of real numbers, then click a button to iterate step by step. The iterates are graphed in the x-y plane and printed out in table form. This is an introduction to the idea of prisoners/escapees in iterated functions and the calculation of fractal Julia sets.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Undergraduate

Primary Subjects: Algebra, Geometry, Graphs, Number and Operations

Related Topics: complex number, coordinate plane, coordinate system, exponents, fractals, functions, graph, infinity, iteration, julia set, mandelbrot set, recursion, recursive functions, sets