Guess My Rule

In this activity you will set up the overhead graphing calculator and use it as with a classroom discussion. Students will see an x-y table and step by step you will add numbers to the table. Students will look for pattern in the numbers. The goal is for the students to be able to guess the rule associated with the pattern.

Set Up Calculator

Press Y=. Store an equation in one of the y= slots.

Press 2nd (Window) TblSet. Set the Indpnt to ASK. It does not matter what the TblStart or ΔTbl is set on.

Press 2nd (GRAPH) TABLE and you should see an x-y table on the screen with the cursor in the x column waiting for you to enter a number.

Enter any x value and press ENTER. The calculator will place the value in the x column and give you the value for the y based on the equation your entered in Y1.

The students can be asked questions about the relationship of 2 to 1.

	How can you make 1 become a 2?
	Is there more than one way to make 1 become a 2?
	How much more is 2 than 1?
	What rule will make the 1 become a 2?

After students have given several possibilities enter a second number in the x list.

Ask students to think again about a function rule that would make the 1 into a 2.

Students can record the values in a chart at their desks.

As an extension students could also be asked to graph the data as they collect it.