Investigation Activity Lesson 1.

2 Unit 4 Name______________________
Date __________

Objective: In this investigation you Write important information you may use during this investigation (Names, rates,
will explore connections between any variables etc). Draw a picture if necessary.
number x and its square by graphing
the coordinate pairs (x , x 2) .
Step 1: The numbers -10 through 10
are in the first column of the table.
Without a calculator, find the square
of each number and place it in the
second column.

Step 2: How do the squares of Explain

numbers and their opposites _________________________________________________________________________________
compare? What is the relationship
between the positive numbers and _________________________________________________________________________________
their squares? Between the negative
numbers and their squares? _________________________________________________________________________________
Step 3: Plot points for -6 x 6
from the table in the graph below.
What relationship does this graph
show?

Step 4: Is the graph of f ( x)=x 2 a Explain

_________________________________________________________________________________
function?
If so, describe why it is. If not, explain
_________________________________________________________________________________
why not.
 2
The graph of f ( x)=x is called a
parabola. You can create other
parabolas based on variations of this
basic equation.

Step 5: What makes the point (0, 0)

on your curve unique? Where is this
point on the curve? This point is
called the vertex.
Step 6: Draw a vertical line through
the point (0, 0). How is this line like a
mirror?

Step 7: If the x and y variables were

defined as side lengths of a square
and the area of a square to create
the graph in Step 5 would the x
values represent side lengths or
areas of squares? Would the y values
represent side lengths or areas of
squares?

Step 8: Explain or show how you

would use the equation to find the
side length of a square whose area is
2
25 square centimeters (cm ).
Step 9: Complete the table using the
equation f (x)=x 2 3 . Plot the points
and sketch the graph of the parabola.
Step 12: Complete the table using
the equation f (x)=( x+ 2)2 . Plot the
points and sketch the graph of the
parabola.
Step 13: Complete the table using
the equation y=(x 1)2 +2 . Plot the
points and sketch the graph of the
parabola.