Work to a Conclusion
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A lesson plan for grades 9–12 Mathematics
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In this lesson, one of a four-part unit from Illuminations titled “Whelk-Come to Mathematics: Using Rational Functions to Investigate the Behavior of Northwestern Crows,” students use rational functions to investigate the feeding behavior of Northwestern Crows. Biologists have observed that northwestern crows consistently drop a type of mollusk called a whelk from a mean height of about 5 meters. Students develop a model for finding out between what heights the amount of work is the smallest. Students then use an interactive applet, or their own graphing calculator to explore the rational functions related to this investigation and to find the height corresponding to the minimum work.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
