Thinking Functionally

The idea of a function lives at the heart of mathematics and mathematical modelling, and the graphs of functions can be very illuminating. The resources below explore a variety of different functions in both mathematical and practical contexts, and highlight important aspects of the functions' behaviour.

problem

Absolutely!

Age

16 to 18

What can you say about this graph? A number of questions have been suggested to help you look at the graph in different ways. Use these to help you make sense of this and similar graphs.

problem

Picture the process i

Age

16 to 18

How does the temperature of a cup of tea behave over time? What is the radius of a spherical balloon as it is inflated? What is the distance fallen by a parachutist after jumping out of a plane? After sketching graphs for these and other real-world processes, you are offered a selection of equations to match to these graphs and processes.

problem

Approaching asymptotes

Age

16 to 18

Can you describe what an asymptote is? This resource includes a list of statements about asymptotes and a collection of graphs, some of which have asymptotes. Use the graphs to help you decide whether you agree with the statements about asymptotes.

problem

Two-way functions

Age

16 to 18

This gives you an opportunity to explore roots and asymptotes of functions, both by identifying properties that functions have in common and also by trying to find functions that have particular properties. You may like to use the list of functions in the Hint, which includes enough functions to complete the table plus some extras.You might like to work on this problem in a pair or small group, or to compare your table to someone else's to see where you have used the same functions and where not.