Functions and Transformations

Students take a deeper look at piecewise functions and absolute value functions, and study how transformations of functions can be identified graphically and represented algebraically.

Math

Unit 5

9th Grade

Unit Summary


In Unit 5, students take a deeper look at piecewise functions and absolute value functions, and then study how transformations of functions can be identified graphically and represented algebraically. Throughout the unit, students will recall and utilize skills from 8th grade as they manipulate equations and inequalities, write equations from graphs, and solve systems of equations. 

In Topic A, students recall from Unit 1 how a graph can depict different behaviors over different domains. They define these functions as piecewise functions and look at various real-world applications that can be modeled using piecewise and step functions. 

In Topic B, students identify the graph of an absolute value function as a piecewise function. They solve absolute value equations and inequalities algebraically, and students also leverage their understanding of systems of equations to conceptualize their solutions graphically in the coordinate plane. 

In Topic C, students use the absolute value function as a vehicle to understand, identify, and represent transformations to function graphs. Along the way, they also apply transformations to other parent functions and learn how the graph of any function can be manipulated in certain ways using algebraic rules.

Pacing: 18 instructional days (16 lessons, 1 flex day, 1 assessment day)

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Assessment


The following assessments accompany Unit 5.

Post-Unit

Use the resources below to assess student understanding of the unit content and action plan for future units.

Unit Prep


Intellectual Prep

Internalization of Standards via the Unit Assessment

  • Take unit assessment. Annotate for: 
    • Standards that each question aligns to
    • Purpose of each question: spiral, foundational, mastery, developing
    • Strategies and representations used in daily lessons
    • Relationship to Essential Understandings of unit 
    • Lesson(s) that assessment points to

Internalization of Trajectory of Unit

  • Read and annotate “Unit Summary.”
  • Notice the progression of concepts through the unit using “Unit at a Glance.”
  • Do all target tasks. Annotate the target tasks for: 
    • Essential understandings
    • Connection to assessment questions 

Essential Understandings

  • Piecewise functions model different behaviors over various domains. They can be defined using multiple function rules or equations with specified domain intervals. 
  • Piecewise functions are often used to model real-world situations such as varying price rates, income tax brackets, or overtime pay. Step functions are an example of piecewise functions and are often used to model situations such as postage cost by weight. 
  • Absolute value equations, $${|x|=a}$$, can be thought of as two functions, $${ f(x)=|x|}$$ and $${g(x)=a}$$, that are equal to one another, $${f(x)=g(x)}$$. The solution(s) are the values for $$x$$ where the two functions intersect in the coordinate plane. 
  • The graphs of functions can be transformed in the coordinate plane and represented algebraically. For a function $$f(x)$$, $$f(x)+k$$ and $$f(x+h)$$ represent vertical and horizontal translations, respectively; $$af(x)$$ and $$f(bx)$$ represent vertical and horizontal scaling, respectively; and specifically, $$-f(x)$$ and $$f(-x)$$ represent reflections over the $$x$$- and $$y$$-axes, respectively. 

Vocabulary

Domain/range Absolute value inequality
Piecewise function Parent function
Step function Transformations of functions
Absolute value functions Translation (vertical and horizontal)
Extraneous solution Scaling (vertical and horizontal)

Materials

  • Graphing calculators or other graphing technology
  • Computers for Desmos activities

Lesson Map


Topic A: Piecewise Functions

Topic B: Absolute Value Functions

Topic C: Function Transformations

Common Core Standards


Key

Major Cluster

Supporting Cluster

Additional Cluster

Core Standards

Building Functions

Creating Equations

Interpreting Functions

Reasoning with Equations and Inequalities

Seeing Structure in Expressions

Foundational Standards

Expressions and Equations

Functions

Geometry

Future Standards

Building Functions

Interpreting Functions

Reasoning with Equations and Inequalities

Standards for Mathematical Practice

  • CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP1 — Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

  • CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP2 — Reason abstractly and quantitatively.

  • CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP3 — Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

  • CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP4 — Model with mathematics.

  • CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP5 — Use appropriate tools strategically.

  • CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP6 — Attend to precision.

  • CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP7 — Look for and make use of structure.

  • CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP8 — Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

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