Portfolio Option 1: Sports Graph
This portfolio problem will have you write. You will turn in a “mathematical paper” of about 1 page of writing. You can use this handout to write rough draft ideas first.
Brainstorm: Which of the above sports do you think the graph could represent? Why?
Brainstorm: What vocabulary and properties of graphs and functions do you see represented in the graph? How did any of those affect your choice for the sport?
Use your brainstorms above to write a 1 page paper that talks about this graph, what sport you believe it could represent, and what properties of functions and graphs support your answer. You can add diagrams as well.
The graph provided represents the speed of an object over time, with the independent variable of time on the x-axis and the dependent variable of speed on the y-axis.
Based on the steep slope of the line and the rapid increase in speed, I believe this graph could represent the sport of track and field, specifically a sprinter running the 100-meter dash.
The vocabulary and properties of graphs and functions present in this graph include the slope of the line, which represents the rate of change or the speed at which the object is moving. The steep slope of the line indicates a high rate of change, which is consistent with the explosive acceleration required for sprinters in the 100-meter dash. Additionally, the y-intercept of the graph represents the starting speed of the object, which would be zero for a sprinter at the starting block.
In conclusion, I believe that this graph represents the speed of a sprinter in the 100-meter dash. The steep slope and y-intercept of the graph align with the properties of a sprinter's acceleration and starting speed. The use of graphs to represent real-world phenomena such as sports events can provide a visual representation and aid in understanding the underlying mathematical principles at work.
(Note: A diagram could be included to illustrate the graph and its corresponding sport.)