Graph sketching

  • Folium of Descartes
    problem
    Favourite

    Folium of Descartes

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    Investigate the family of graphs given by the equation x^3+y^3=3axy for different values of the constant a.

  • Sine Problem
    problem

    Sine Problem

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    In this 'mesh' of sine graphs, one of the graphs is the graph of the sine function. Find the equations of the other graphs to reproduce the pattern.
  • Maltese Cross
    problem

    Maltese Cross

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Sketch the graph of $xy(x^2 - y^2) = x^2 + y^2$ consisting of four curves and a single point at the origin. Convert to polar form. Describe the symmetries of the graph.
  • More Parabolic Patterns
    problem

    More Parabolic Patterns

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    The illustration shows the graphs of twelve functions. Three of them have equations y=x^2, x=y^2 and x=-y^2+2. Find the equations of all the other graphs.
  • Reaction types
    problem

    Reaction Types

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Explore the rates of growth of the sorts of simple polynomials often used in mathematical modelling.
  • Ideal axes
    problem

    Ideal Axes

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Explore how can changing the axes for a plot of an equation can lead to different shaped graphs emerging
  • Graphic biology
    problem

    Graphic Biology

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Several graphs of the sort occurring commonly in biology are given. How many processes can you map to each graph?
  • Placeholder: several colourful numbers
    problem

    Bird-Brained

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    How many eggs should a bird lay to maximise the number of chicks that will hatch? An introduction to optimisation.
  • Quartics
    problem

    Quartics

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Investigate the graphs of y = [1 + (x - t)^2][1 + (x + t^)2] as the parameter t varies.