Lesson 1

Describing Graphs

  • Let’s describe graphs

1.1: Notice and Wonder: A Rocket Path

a rocket during launch

A rocket is shot into the air and some aspects of its flight are shown in the graph.

Graph. Horizontal axis, time in seconds, by twos. Vertical axis, height above the ground in feet, by fifties.

What do you notice? What do you wonder?

1.2: Matching Descriptions and Graphs

Match the graph to the description of the situation.

Match each description in column A with a graph from column B that represents the situation. Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

  1. Take turns with your partner to match a description with a graph.
    1. For each match that you find, explain to your partner how you know it’s a match.
    2. For each match that your partner finds, listen carefully to their explanation. If you disagree, discuss your thinking and work to reach an agreement.

  1. Mai begins at home and walks away from her home at a constant rate.

  2. Jada begins at a neighbor’s house and walks away from home at a constant rate.

  3. Clare begins her walk at school and walks home at a constant rate.

  4. Elena begins at home and runs away from her home at a constant rate.

  5. Lin begins at home and walks away from home for a while, then walks back home.

  6. Priya begins at home and runs away from home, then walks for a while.

A

horizontal axis, time in seconds. vertical axis, distance from home in meters.

B

A graph. 

C

horizontal axis, time in seconds. vertical axis, distance from home in meters. 

D

Function on coordinate plane.

E

horizontal axis, time in seconds. vertical axis, distance from home in meters.

F

Graph on coordinate plane. 

 

1.3: Say What You See

In your own words, describe these graphs.

  1. Graph of a line, origin O.
  2. Graph of a line, origin O.
  3. horizontal axis, time in seconds. vertical axis, distance from home in meters. 
  4. horizontal axis, time in seconds. vertical axis, distance from home, in meters. exponential growth curve through origin, 100 comma 50, 200 comma 200. 

Summary