Lesson Objective

Students will qualitatively analyze functional relationships by identifying linear and nonlinear features, as well as intervals where a function is increasing, decreasing, or constant, without the need for intensive computation.

How can we determine the nature of a function (linear vs. nonlinear) just by looking at its structure or graph?

How do we describe the behavior of a function over specific intervals?

linear
nonlinear
increasing
decreasing
constant
interval

8.F.A.3: Interpret the equation y=mx+b as defining a linear function.
8.F.B.5: Describe qualitatively the functional relationship between two quantities by analyzing a graph.

This lesson focuses on the qualitative analysis of functions. Students will identify if a function is linear or nonlinear and describe its behavior (increasing/decreasing) based on visual or structural cues (DOK 2).

Misidentifying nonlinear functions as linear.

Card sorts

Exit Tickets

Classwork

Teacher Observations