MYP Maths: Exploring cubic functions and their transformations (Criteria B & C)

MYP Maths: Exploring cubic functions and their transformations
(Criteria B & C)
This activity is designed to foster critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and communication skills.

This activity pack includes a detailed rubric and a carefully crafted worksheet, guiding students through a series of tasks. They’ll start by finding the values of a cubic function, plotting points, and analyzing the resulting graph. Students will describe the shape of the cubic function using essential mathematical terms such as increasing, decreasing, maximum, minimum, y-intercept, and x-intercept.

Furthermore, this resource extends the investigation by prompting students to consider modifications and transformations of the base cubic function. Students will explore potential alterations to the function to observe how these changes affect the graph’s characteristics.

To facilitate this exploration, the resource suggests the use of Desmos. Any online graphing tool can be used. Students will change the equations and visualize transformations, thereby deepening their understanding of how variations impact the graph of a cubic function.

This resource is ideal for middle and high school mathematics classes, serving as an engaging supplement to the curriculum while promoting critical thinking, graphing skills, and analytical reasoning. It aligns with Criteria B (Investigating Patterns) and Criterion C (Communicating) of the MYP Mathematics and includes a rubric for easy assessment of student progress and understanding.