Polynomial Functions Unit Plan

Polynomials -- Real Life Applications

1. Click here to link to the website Everyday Use of Polynomials.

Connection:

1.  Organize students into groups of two. Have students search for data about sports, economics, science, or other topics of interest. Direct them to enter portions of the data on a graphing calculator to see if the data can be modeled in a reasonable way by a linear, quadratic, or cubic polynomial function. Students then record the equations for the models and sketch graphs of the data points and models. Have students classify their models by degree and number of terms.