Will It Hit The Hoop – Desmos, Updated

I am blogging about a lesson, yay!

I recently saw a post from the Great Dan Meyer, and wanted to use the problem in my upcoming Quadratics Lesson, so here it is....

The problem is "Will the shooter make a basket..."

We are going to use Desmos (love it) to see if he actually makes the shot.  Here are the links

Here are my Desmos graphs —

First, let's look at the video:

Now, use the following Desmos file to see if he will make his shot....
Click on Take 1

Check your answer here:

How about this shot...."Will he make it?"

Use Desmos again and see what you can conclude about the shot...
Click on Take 2

Now, were you correct? Let's see...

What about this shot....

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Now, using the same process, analyze the graph and predict if he will make the shot....
Click on Take 4

Was your conjecture correct? Let's see...

Next, we are going to take the same process and analyze the graphs using the attributes of a quadratic function using the vertex form of the equation.

Vertex form:

Take 1
Take 2
Take 3
Take 4

Now, answer the following questions with your partner....

1. What role does the "a" value serve in the quadratic equation?
2. What role does the "h" value serve in the quadratic equation?
3. What role does the "k" value serve in the quadratic equation?