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Real-life Equations
Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level 
Why do this problem?
This problem encourages students to get into the real meaning of equations and graphical representation without getting bogged down in algebraic calculations or falling back into blind computation. It will help to reinforce the differences between different 'types' of equation.Possible approach
Note the difference between showing that an equation
is a possibility and
showing that it is not a
possibility. In the first case, students need only give a single
example of a curve with certain paramaters which passes through a
point of the required type. To show that an equation CANNOT pass
through a point of a certain type requires more careful
explanation. Hopefully students will work this out for themselves,
but prompt them if necessary.
Key questions
- How can you tell if a certain point will match a certain equation type?
- How can you tell if a certain point will not match a certain equation type?
Possible extension
You might naturally try Equation
matching next.
Possible support
Give concrete examples by labelling the points $(1, -1), (-1,
1), (-1, -1), (1, -1)$
Alternatively, try the easier non-algebraic question Bio-graphs
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