Target 3-A, Target 3-B, Target 3-C, Target 3-D, Target 3-E, Target 3-F, Target 3-G

Target 3-B

  

Describe how changes in the value of a affect the graphs of y = ax2, y = ax3, and y = a/x.

 

Sample Question

  1. Match the following with the curves shown in the graph. Explain your reasoning.
    1. y = x2
    2. y = -4x2
    3. y = 0.2x2
  2. Match the following with the curves shown in the graph. Explain your reasoning.
    1. y = x3
    2. y = -4x3
    3. y = 0.2x3

Sample Response
  1. I think they're matched like this:
    1. y = x2 is A. The points (2, 4), (3, 9), and (4, 16) are on function A.
      They fit the rule y = x2 perfectly.
    2. y = -4x2 is C. The -4 on the x2 flips the graph of y = x2 upside down and makes it skinnier.
    3. y = 0.2x2 is B. The 0.2 makes the graph of y = x2 wider.
  2. I think they're matched like this:
    1. y = x3 is B. The points (-2, 8) and (2, 8) are on B.
      They fit the rule perfectly.
    2. y = -4x3 is A. The -4 on the x3 flips the graph of y = x3 upside down and makes it skinnier.
    3. y = 0.2x3 is C. The 0.2 makes the graph of y = x3 wider.