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Straight Line Graphs On Desmos Write On

This document provides instructions for using Desmos to explore and understand straight line graphs. It guides the user through tasks to investigate properties of lines in the forms of y=a, x=a, and y=mx+c. Key lessons include: lines of the form y=a are vertical and lines of the form x=a are horizontal; the slope m determines whether a line goes up/down as x increases and c is the y-intercept; parallel lines have the same slope and lines through the same point have the same y-intercept. The document challenges the user to find equations of lines passing through given points and to create pictures using line segments.

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Mario Buonocore
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37 views3 pages

Straight Line Graphs On Desmos Write On

This document provides instructions for using Desmos to explore and understand straight line graphs. It guides the user through tasks to investigate properties of lines in the forms of y=a, x=a, and y=mx+c. Key lessons include: lines of the form y=a are vertical and lines of the form x=a are horizontal; the slope m determines whether a line goes up/down as x increases and c is the y-intercept; parallel lines have the same slope and lines through the same point have the same y-intercept. The document challenges the user to find equations of lines passing through given points and to create pictures using line segments.

Uploaded by

Mario Buonocore
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Straight Line Graphs on Desmos

Go to desmos.com and click on Launch Calculator.

Task 1 – grid lines

1. Type in y=2. Briefly describe the line that is created

2. Click on the point where the line crosses the y axis. The coordinates should appear for you to read off. Now
move the slider next to your equation about and describe the effect it has on this point.

3. Generally, what can you say about lines of the form y=a where a is just a number?

4. Type in x=3 in the next equation box. Briefly describe the line that is created.

5. In general, what can you say about lines of the form x=a where a is just a number?

6. Adjust your sliders until you have the lines x=4 and y=−2. Where do the lines intersect?

7. Which two lines intersect at the point (-2, 5)? Try it out.

8. Which four lines would create a square with sides of length 4 units? Try it out!

TJ Maths
Task 2 – sloping straight lines

Clear your lines by clicking on the cross next to each equation. Now type in y=mx+c . When the option to add slider
appears click on all.

1. What value have m and c been automatically set at?

2. Now click on the point where the line crosses the y axis to show the y-intercept (0,1). Change the value of m.
What stays the same and what changes? You should mention what happens when m is large, small or
negative.

3. Now set m to 1 and play around with the c slider. What stays the same and what changes?

4. Draw the line y=3 x−4 by typing it into box number 4 on the left. Now change the values of m and c to
make a parallel line to this. What can you say about any line that is parallel to y=3 x−4 .

5. Now change the values of m and c so that both lines cross the y axis at the same place. What can you say
about all the equations of lines that cross the y axis in this place?

6. Delete the line y=3 x−4 . In box number 4 type (0,3) and in box number 5 type (2,9). Now change your
values of m and c until the line goes through both points. What is the equation of this line?

7. Change your points to (0,1) and (4,9). Adjust m and c until your line passes through both points. What is the
equation of this line?

8. Change your point to (0,-3) and (-2,7). What is the equation of this line?

9. Finally, change your points to (0,-5) and (10,0). What is the equation of this line?

TJ Maths
Extension
Can you find lines that pass through the following pairs of points? Write them under each pair of coordinates
1. (1,5) and (4,11) 2. (-2,5) and (2,9) 3. (2,10) and (4,-2) 4. (6,1) and (10, 2)

5. (0.5, 9.5) and (15, -5) 6. (3,4) and (4,3)

7. Clear all your graphs. Plot the points (0,0), (1,1), (2,4), (3,9), (4,16), (-1,1), (-2,4), (-3,9), (-4,16). Why is it
impossible to draw a straight line through all these points?

8. Look at the connection between the y coordinate and the x coordinate. Can you find an equation that goes through
all these points? If so, what is it?

CHALLENGE

Delete all your graphs and points. Type in the following y=x {−2< x <2 }. You should get a line segment appearing.
The information in curly brackets tells you how to restrict the values of x that are filled into the equation. Your
challenge is to use what you now know about straight line graphs to create a picture using only straight lines. You can
make it simple (like a triangle or a kite) or really hard (like a Christmas tree). Don’t forget to print out your picture
and save it if you want to work on it further. Take a look at creative art on desmos’ homepage to see how far some
people have gone to create pictures using graphs.

TJ Maths

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