Functions, Graphs and Features

Lesson 9

Math

Unit 1

9th Grade

Lesson 9 of 11

Objective


Sketch an exponential function that represents a situation. Identify key features of the graph and relate to context.

Common Core Standards


Core Standards

  • A.CED.A.2 — Create equations in two or more variables to represent relationships between quantities; graph equations on coordinate axes with labels and scales.
  • F.IF.B.5 — Relate the domain of a function to its graph and, where applicable, to the quantitative relationship it describes. For example, if the function h(n) gives the number of person-hours it takes to assemble n engines in a factory, then the positive integers would be an appropriate domain for the function. Modeling is best interpreted not as a collection of isolated topics but in relation to other standards. Making mathematical models is a Standard for Mathematical Practice, and specific modeling standards appear throughout the high school standards indicated by a star symbol (★). The star symbol sometimes appears on the heading for a group of standards; in that case, it should be understood to apply to all standards in that group.
  • F.IF.C.7.E — Graph exponential and logarithmic functions, showing intercepts and end behavior, and trigonometric functions, showing period, midline, and amplitude.
  • F.LE.A.3 — Observe using graphs and tables that a quantity increasing exponentially eventually exceeds a quantity increasing linearly, quadratically, or (more generally) as a polynomial function.

Foundational Standards

  • 8.F.B.5

Criteria for Success


  1. Describe the shape that is used to model exponential functions.
  2. Describe the rate of change over intervals of an exponential function. Compare the rate of change to a linear function and to a quadratic function. 
  3. Identify contexts that could be represented by an exponential function, such as interest, population growth, car depreciation, and bacteria growth. 
  4. Describe the domain and range of exponential functions, as well as features of the exponential functions represented graphically.

Tips for Teachers


This lesson introduces the idea of an exponential function within the analysis that students have been doing on other functions in this unit. Students will need to be able to recognize the shape and describe the general features but will not need to go in-depth. This work will be done in Unit 6. 

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Anchor Problems


Problem 1

The table below gives the number of bacteria over time, shown in this video
Plot the points in the table on a graph and draw the curve that goes through the points. 

Based on the pattern you see in the table of values, extend the graph to 4 seconds. 

Guiding Questions

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Problem 2

Below is a graph of an amount of money invested tripling each year. This is modeled by an exponential function. 

Describe the features of the function in terms of intervals where the function is increasing/decreasing, intervals where the rate of change is constant/increasing/decreasing, and intercepts. Describe what each of these features means in the context of the problem. 

Guiding Questions

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Problem Set


Give your students more opportunities to practice the skills in this lesson with a downloadable problem set aligned to the daily objective.

Target Task


Assume that a bacteria population doubles every hour. Which of the following three tables of data, with x representing time in hours and y the count of bacteria, could represent the bacteria population with respect to time? For the chosen table of data, plot the graph of data. Label the axes appropriately with units. 

References

EngageNY Mathematics Algebra I > Module 1 > Topic A > Lesson 3Exit Ticket

Algebra I > Module 1 > Topic A > Lesson 3 of the New York State Common Core Mathematics Curriculum from EngageNY and Great Minds. © 2015 Great Minds. Licensed by EngageNY of the New York State Education Department under the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US license. Accessed Dec. 2, 2016, 5:15 p.m..

Additional Practice


The following resources include problems and activities aligned to the objective of the lesson that can be used for additional practice or to create your own problem set.

  • Include problems where students need to identify whether something is always, sometimes, or never true. Use domain, range, intercepts, and rate of change. For example, is the statement shown always, sometimes, or never true? Explain your reasoning. “The rate of change of an exponential function is constant.” 
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Lesson 8

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Lesson 10

Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

Topic A: Features of Functions

Topic B: Nonlinear Functions

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