Examples of what pupils should know and be able to do
Construct tables of values, including negative values of x, and plot graphs of simple quadratic and cubic functions.
Probing questions
How do you go about plotting the graph of a quadratic or cubic function?
When finding a set of coordinates, how do you decide the range of values
of x to use?
How do you check that the graph is correct?
Are these statements always, sometimes or never true? If they are sometimes
true, when precisely are they true and when are they false?
- Quadratic graphs are symmetrical about the y axis.
- Quadratic graphs are symmetrical about the x axis.
- Quadratic graphs cross the x axis twice.
What if pupils find this a barrier?
Use and adapt the Matching and Wise words activities in Teaching mental mathematics from level 5: algebra page 21 - Acrobat pdf document (36Kb).