Group Assignment

*Divide your class into groups of four.

*Give each member of each group a different handout.

*Each member should also receive a copy of the included page which has a grid at the top and lines at the bottom.

*They should use the lined area to write any two directions they choose about how to graph the line using statements such as; it has a slope of _____, it has a x-intercept of _____, it has a y-intercept of ______. They should also write the name of the point that is plotted on their graph.

*Once they have had enough time to write their directions, have them pass their papers to their right and the ones receiving the papers should follow the directions and graph the lines as they are described at the bottom (the index cards should not be shared with anyone else in the group).

*Once they have finished drawing the lines, they should pass the papers to their right again and that person should draw a line parallel to the first one through the given point.

*When they have finished drawing the parallel lines, the paper should go to the person to their right and they should write equations for each of the graphed lines

*One more pass to the right should allow the papers to wind up with their original owners. Each one in the group should compare the lines graphed on their papers to see if:

1. the original line was graphed correctly

2. the second is indeed parallel to it and through the given point

3. the equations are correct

*The group should discuss how the two equations compare to each other. (hopefully they will conclude that even though the y-intercepts change, the slopes stay the same when the lines are parallel.

*You can have someone from each group present their findings. (One way to do this would be for them to put their sheet under a document projector and explain each of the steps.)

Handout A

  1. Using the lined portion of the provided paper, write two descriptors of the line above such as; it has a y-intercept of ___, it has a x-intercept of ___, or it has a slope of ____. Do not show this graph to your group members.
  2. Also note the name of the point that is plotted on the graph above.
  3. When you finish with the description pass the paper to your right.
  4. You should receive a paper from the person to your left. On it you should use the information written at the bottom to graph the line and point described on the grid at the top.
  5. When you finish pass that page to the person to your left.
  6. On the next paper that you receive from the person to your right, you should draw a line parallel to the one that is on that paper going through the plotted point.
  7. Pass that paper to your right and get the one from the person to your left.
  8. On the next paper, write an equation for each line that is graphed on it.
  9. When you have finished writing the equations, pass that page on the person to your right. (If there are 4 people in your group, you should wind up with your original paper.)
  10. You should compare the lines graphed on their papers to see if:

a. the original line was graphed correctly

b. the second is indeed parallel to it and through the given point

c. the equations are correct

  1. The group should discuss how the two equations compare to each other.
  2. Each one in the group should be prepared to share their findings with the rest of the class.

Handout B

  1. Using the lined portion of the provided paper, write two descriptors of the line above such as; it has a y-intercept of ___, it has a x-intercept of ___, or it has a slope of ____. Do not show this graph to your group members.
  2. Also note the name of the point that is plotted on the graph above.
  3. When you finish with the description pass the paper to your right.
  4. You should receive a paper from the person to your left. On it you should use the information written at the bottom to graph the line and point described on the grid at the top.
  5. When you finish pass that page to the person to your left.
  6. On the next paper that you receive from the person to your right, you should draw a line parallel to the one that is on that paper going through the plotted point.
  7. Pass that paper to your right and get the one from the person to your left.
  8. On the next paper, write an equation for each line that is graphed on it.
  9. When you have finished writing the equations, pass that page on the person to your right. (If there are 4 people in your group, you should wind up with your original paper.)
  10. You should compare the lines graphed on their papers to see if:

a. the original line was graphed correctly

b. the second is indeed parallel to it and through the given point

c. the equations are correct

  1. The group should discuss how the two equations compare to each other.
  2. Each one in the group should be prepared to share their findings with the rest of the class.

Handout C

  1. Using the lined portion of the provided paper, write two descriptors of the line above such as; it has a y-intercept of ___, it has a x-intercept of ___, or it has a slope of ____. Do not show this graph to your group members.
  2. Also note the name of the point that is plotted on the graph above.
  3. When you finish with the description pass the paper to your right.
  4. You should receive a paper from the person to your left. On it you should use the information written at the bottom to graph the line and point described on the grid at the top.
  5. When you finish pass that page to the person to your left.
  6. On the next paper that you receive from the person to your right, you should draw a line parallel to the one that is on that paper going through the plotted point.
  7. Pass that paper to your right and get the one from the person to your left.
  8. On the next paper, write an equation for each line that is graphed on it.
  9. When you have finished writing the equations, pass that page on the person to your right. (If there are 4 people in your group, you should wind up with your original paper.)
  10. You should compare the lines graphed on their papers to see if:

a. the original line was graphed correctly

b. the second is indeed parallel to it and through the given point

c. the equations are correct

  1. The group should discuss how the two equations compare to each other.
  2. Each one in the group should be prepared to share their findings with the rest of the class.

Handout D

  1. Using the lined portion of the provided paper, write two descriptors of the line above such as; it has a y-intercept of ___, it has a x-intercept of ___, or it has a slope of ____. Do not show this graph to the rest of your group.
  2. Also note the name of the point that is plotted on the graph above.
  3. When you finish with the description pass the paper to your right.
  4. You should receive a paper from the person to your left. On it you should use the information written at the bottom to graph the line and point described on the grid at the top.
  5. When you finish pass that page to the person to your left.
  6. On the next paper that you receive from the person to your right, you should draw a line parallel to the one that is on that paper going through the plotted point.
  7. Pass that paper to your right and get the one from the person to your left.
  8. On the next paper, write an equation for each line that is graphed on it.
  9. When you have finished writing the equations, pass that page on the person to your right. (If there are 4 people in your group, you should wind up with your original paper.)
  10. You should compare the lines graphed on their papers to see if:

a. the original line was graphed correctly

b. the second is indeed parallel to it and through the given point

c. the equations are correct

  1. The group should discuss how the two equations compare to each other.
  2. Each one in the group should be prepared to share their findings with the rest of the class.

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