Interpreting Graphs

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

Create a game spinner with variable sized sectors to look at experimental and theoretical probabilities. Parameters: Sizes of sectors, number of sectors, number of trials.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Fractions, Probability, Statistics

Related Topics: angles, circle graph, circles, counting, decimals, events, experimental probability, fair, geometric probability, outcomes, percentages, percents, pie chart, probability simulation, simulation, spinner, statistics, theoretical probability

Create a game spinner with one to twelve sectors in order to look at experimental and theoretical probabilities. Parameters: Number of sectors, number of trials.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Discrete, Fractions, Probability, Statistics

Related Topics: angles, circle graph, circles, events, experimental probability, fair, geometric probability, outcomes, percents, pie chart, probability, probability simulation, spinner, theoretical probability, theoretical value, trials

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

A more advanced version of Slope Slider, this activity allows the manipulation of the constants and coefficients in any function thereby encouraging the user to explore the effects on the graph of the function by changing those numbers.

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

Primary Subjects: Algebra, Calculus, Graphs, Trigonometry

Related Topics: algebra, bell curve, calculus, cartesian coordinate, coordinate plane, coordinate system, cosine, decimals, exponential, flyer, function properties, functions, graph, intervals, inverse, linear equations, linear functions, lines, logarithm, parabola, polynomial, pre-calculus, range, sine, slope, tangent, translation, trigonometry

Students can create graphs of functions entered as algebraic expressions -- similar to a graphing calculator.

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

Primary Subjects: Algebra, Calculus, Graphs, Trigonometry

Related Topics: algebra, calculus, cartesian coordinate, coordinate plane, cosecant, cosine, cotangent, functions, graph, inverse, linear equations, linear functions, logarithm, parabola, polynomial, positive part of the operand, pre-calculus, range, secant, sine, slope, tangent, trigonometry

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

View histograms for built-in or user-specified data. Experiment with how the size of the class intervals influences the appearance of the histogram. Parameters: Data sets, class sizes.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Undergraduate

Primary Subjects: Graphs, Statistics

Related Topics: counting, data plot, graph, histogram, intervals, mean, range, skewed distribution, slides, standard deviation

Plot ordered pairs on the graph, and they will be connected in the order that they are input. This enables you to decide how the pairs should be connected, rather than having the computer connect them from left to right.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Algebra, Geometry, Graphs, Statistics

Related Topics: cartesian coordinate, coordinate, coordinate plane, coordinate system, data plot, graph, lines, vertical line test

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

Experiment with a simple ecosystem consisting of grass, rabbits, and wolves, learning about probabilities, chaos, and simulation.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Calculus, Graphs, Modeling, Probability, Statistics

Related Topics: agent modeling, calculus, chaos, graph, iteration, pattern, predator-prey, probability simulation, random number, simulation, statistics

Plot ordered pairs of numbers, either as a scatter plot or with the dots connected. Points are connected from right to left, rather than being connected in the order they are entered.

Audiences: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Algebra, Geometry, Graphs, Statistics

Related Topics: cartesian coordinate, coordinate plane, coordinate system, data plot, decimals, graph

Similar to other "flyers", Slope Slider uses slider bars to explore the effect of the multiplier and constant on a linear function of the form f(x)=mx+b. Explore the relationship between slope and intercept in the Cartesian coordinate system.

Audiences: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12

Primary Subjects: Algebra, Graphs

Related Topics: algebra, cartesian coordinate, coordinate plane, decimals, flyer, fractions, function properties, functions, graph, intercept, linear equations, linear functions, slides, slope

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