standard_description: Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding. (This standard is limited to problems posed with whole numbers and having whole number answers; students should know how to perform operations in the conventional order when there are no parentheses to specify a particular order (Order of Operations).)
problem_activity: Warm-up
This warm-up highlights the three forms of quadratic expressions students have seen so far. It reinforces how each form gives different insights into the graph of a quadratic function.
Launch
Arrange students in groups of 2. Give students a minute of quiet think time, and then ask them to share their thinking with a partner.
Student Facing
Expressions in different forms can be used to define the same function. Here are three ways to define a function
\(f\)
.
\(f(x)=x^2-4x+3\)
(standard form)
\(f(x)=(x-3)(x-1)\)
(factored form)
\(f(x)=(x-2)^2-1\)
(vertex form)
Which form would you use if you want to find the following features of the graph of
\(f\)
? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.
the
\(x\)
-intercepts
the vertex
the
\(y\)
-intercept
Student Response
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Activity Synthesis
Invite students to share their responses and explanations. Encourage students to name specific features of the graph of
\(f\)
. If time permits, consider asking students to use all of the info they can gather to sketch a graph.
If not already mentioned by students, point out that while the standard form allows us to find the
\(y\)
-intercept more readily, the
\(y\)
-intercept can always be found by evaluating the function at
\(x=0\)
.


aligns: no