Michaela Nobles

Technology Review
Desmos (Web-Based Software)

Part A
General Information
Demos is a web based software. You can find Desmos by going to the website,
https://www.desmos.com/. Desmos is a free software and it available to anyone who wants to use it. As
long as you have internet, you will be able to access it. Desmos has an intended audience of
mathematics students and teachers. The purpose of this software is to allow students to create graphs,
visualize data, explore, and to make conclusions. It allows students to do these things efficiently and
quickly.
Common Core Standards
Desmos can be used for almost all the strands in high school mathematics. It helps with many of the
Common Core Standards. These are a few of the many standards that Desmos can assist with.
Algebra

CCSS.Math.Content.HSA.REI.C.6
Solve systems of linear equations exactly and approximately (e.g., with graphs), focusing on pairs
of linear equations in two variables.
CCSS.Math.Content.HSA.REI.C.7
Solve a simple system consisting of a linear equation and a quadratic equation in two variables
algebraically and graphically. For example, find the points of intersection between the line y = -3x
and the circle x2 + y2 = 3.
CCSS.Math.Content.HSA.REI.D.10
Understand that the graph of an equation in two variables is the set of all its solutions plotted in
the coordinate plane, often forming a curve (which could be a line).
CCSS.Math.Content.HSA.REI.D.11
Explain why the x-coordinates of the points where the graphs of the equations y = f(x) and y =
g(x) intersect are the solutions of the equation f(x) = g(x); find the solutions approximately, e.g.,
using technology to graph the functions, make tables of values, or find successive
approximations. Include cases where f(x) and/or g(x) are linear, polynomial, rational, absolute
value, exponential, and logarithmic functions.

Functions

CCSS.Math.Content.HSF.IF.A.2
Use function notation, evaluate functions for inputs in their domains, and interpret statements that
use function notation in terms of a context

CCSS.Math.Content.HSF.IF.B.6
Calculate and interpret the average rate of change of a function (presented symbolically or as a
table) over a specified interval. Estimate the rate of change from a graph.*
CCSS.Math.Content.HSF.IF.C.7.e
Graph exponential and logarithmic functions, showing intercepts and end behavior, and
trigonometric functions, showing period, midline, and amplitude.
CCSS.Math.Content.HSF.IF.C.9
Compare properties of two functions each represented in a different way (algebraically,
graphically, numerically in tables, or by verbal descriptions).
CCSS.Math.Content.HSF.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.
CCSS.Math.Content.HSF.TF.B.6
(+) Understand that restricting a trigonometric function to a domain on which it is always
increasing or always decreasing allows its inverse to be constructed.

Statistics and Probability

CCSS.Math.Content.HSS.ID.A.1
Represent data with plots on the real number line (dot plots, histograms, and box plots).
CCSS.Math.Content.HSS.ID.A.2
Use statistics appropriate to the shape of the data distribution to compare center (median, mean)
and spread (interquartile range, standard deviation) of two or more different data sets.
CCSS.Math.Content.HSS.ID.B.6
Represent data on two quantitative variables on a scatter plot, and describe how the variables are
related.
CCSS.Math.Content.HSS.ID.C.7
Interpret the slope (rate of change) and the intercept (constant term) of a linear model in the
context of the data.
CCSS.Math.Content.HSS.ID.C.8
Compute (using technology) and interpret the correlation coefficient of a linear fit.

Mathematical Practice Standards

CCSS.Math.Practice.MP1 Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
Desmos allows you to look at graphs and their relations to functions. You can see how a function is
translated into a graph. This will help with making sense of equations. You can see it in multiple
representations.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP3 Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
With the use of the graph feature, students would be able to have evidence to support their thinking and
to critique the conclusions of others. They would be able to look at the graphs and manipulate them to
give a visual to show their thought process and how they came up with a certain solution or conjecture.

CCSS.Math.Practice.MP4 Model with mathematics.

Using Desmos, students can solve real world problems and applications. They will be able to use the
features of desmos to analyze relationsips, interpret data, and draw conclusions. Students will be able to
use the software manipulate graphs and data to get a better understanding of how they relate to each
other.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP5 Use appropriate tools strategically.
There are several tools to be used in Desmos. Knowing what tools to use in the software will help the
students to gain knowledge about a certain concept that they would not be able to by using paper and
pencil.
CCSS.Math.Practice.MP6 Attend to precision
On Desmos, students can attend to precision by using correct labels for graphing and for tables. They
can accurately measure distances.
Part B
Desmos works really well. It is a fun way to allow students to explore and make discoveries on their own.
Desmos is helpful in subject areas from Algebra to Calculus. This software has well organized written
material that is simple to read and very useful. The purpose and goal of this software is to provide a free
service as well as allowing students to create graphs from functions, tables, look at data, and make

mathematics easier for them.

The technology does reach its goals. Students can explore many functions in multiple representations.
Students can interpret data in tables as well as scatterplots. Also, students can animate graphs by using
sliders. Desmos is a simple software and it easy to learn and use. The tools available are easily
accessible and easy to find. This technology does extend and enhance the learning process for intended
mathematical concepts. There are many graphs that are nearly impossible to draw by hand or would take
too long. Desmos can quickly and accurately give you the graphs of many functions. You can visualize
and interpret data that you couldnt do by using paper and pencil. Manipulating graphs is simple to do on
Desmos and allows the students to make conclusions that they could not see without it. For example,
they could not see what changes in a function to make a parabola smaller, wider, or upside down.

I would recommend this for schools to use. This is because there are many things that can be done and
seen using Desmos that could not be done without it. Students will be able to see relationships, interpret
data, manipulate graphs, do explorations on their own, and make discoveries on their own. Not only is it
simple and helpful, it is free.