DESMOS GRAPHING ASSIGNMENT

This assignment reinforces and extends the work you have done on the standard graphs and their
transformations in class.

Required Skills (To be discussed in class)

 Ability to use DESMOS online, found at https://www.desmos.com/calculator
 Entering equations into the DESMOS graphing calculator
 Using symbols _ and ^ to obtain subscripts and superscripts (e.g. x^2 for 𝑥 2 , log_2 x for log 2 𝑥)
 Alternatively, using the DESMOS onscreen keyboard
 Zooming the graph using the mouse wheel and shifting by clicking and moving the mouse
 Identifying the coordinates of a point on a graph by clicking on the graph and dragging the
mouse
 Adding a point on your number plane in DESMOS
 Ability to take a screen shot of your results using the Snipping Tool or equivalent
 Ability to record your results in Microsoft Word or similar word processing application.

This file
You will enter your answers to this assignment in your own copy of this file. Save this file in your own
directory, under the name DESMOS2017_SurnameInitials.docx, where SurnameInitials are your own
surname and initials. This distinguishes the file, ready for you to submit for marking when you have
finished.

Submitting your solutions

Each question includes space to write your own comments or to copy a picture of your graphs. If you do
not have Microsoft Word, or have a strong preference not to use it, you may record your answers in
another format, but all solutions must be clearly labelled or they will not be marked.

You should work on a copy of the file in your own directory and keep this copy as a backup.

Your completed file with solutions must be saved on S:\ (“S drive”) under the subdirectory with your
master’s name:

S:\Mathematics\Homework Submit\Master\FormIV\DESMOS2017_SurnameInitials.docx

e.g. Joe X Smith in BDD’s class will save it as:

S:\Mathematics\Homework Submit\BDD\FormIV\DESMOS2017_SmithJX.docx

If Joe finds a mistake after submitting his work, he can re-submit it with a “b” attached (for version b):

S:\Mathematics\Homework Submit\BDD\FormIV\DESMOS2017_SmithJXb.docx

He CANNOT delete the old copy on S:\, since he does not have permission to delete files from the
submissions directory.

Ability to save your work correctly is an important part of being able to handle technology and follow
instructions.
Sample Solution
Sketch the graph 𝑦 = 3𝑥 and the graph obtained by translating it 1 unit right.

Note:

 To show your solution, copy and paste the DESMOS window into the box provided (for this
sample solution, it is the box labelled Graph 0).
 You can use the windows snipping tool, or your version of WORD may have an option to insert
the window screenshot directly (INSERT tab, Screenshot)
 Be careful to show the DESMOS entry list on the left of the window, because this shows your
working and the equations you have entered.
 Your DESMOS window and your copied diagram should be a size that makes the solution clear.

Answer:

Graph 0

You can use settings

Equations
to add arrows and
entered here. If
x,y labels to axes
you have trouble
entering x-1 as an
index, try
brackets (x-1)

Opens onscreen
keyboard
Part A

A2

A5

A3
A3 A4

A1

There are five graphs in the picture above. They are all shifts of one of the standard graphs:

𝑦 = 𝑥2, 𝑦 = −𝑥 2 , 𝑦 = 2x , 𝑦 = log 2 𝑥,
1
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑟2, 𝑦=𝑥

Deduce the equation of each graph above. Use the equations to draw the graphs on DESMOS and insert
your answers below in the boxes for Questions 1-5.
Question 1

Graph A1 [1 mark]
Question 2

Graph A2 [1 mark]
Question 3

Graph A3 [1 mark]
Question 4

Graph A4 [1 mark]
Question 5

Graph A5 [1 mark]
Part B
The point of this next exercise is to demonstrate that there is a unique parabola passing through any three
non-collinear points. (Remember non-collinear means the points don’t lie in a line.)

Question 1

Graph the function 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, allowing DESMOS to create sliders for a, b and c.

Plot the points (2,3), (-1,3) and (0,1).

Adjust the sliders for a, b, c and hence find the parabola passing through the three points. Your values of a,
b and c might be estimates, not exact values.

Hints:

 You should remember that c is the y-intercept of the parabola

 Think about whether your graph should be concave up (a>0) or down (a<0)

Graph B1 [1 mark]
Question 2

Delete the previous three points and now plot the points (1,3), (-1,2) and (0,-1). Adjust the sliders for a, b, c
and hence find the parabola passing through these three points.

Graph B2 [1 mark]
Part C Investigating Asymptotes
1
Graph the hyperbola 𝑦 = 𝑥−1 and its asymptote 𝑥 = 1 on the same axes. (Extra: Can you draw the
asymptote dotted?)

Use your zoom button (mouse wheel) to find the value of y for each of the x values in the table below for
points on the hyperbola. Fill in the table. (If you click on the curve it will show the coordinates at that
point.)

Table C1 [1 mark] Investigating what happens to y as we approach x=1 “from above”

x 1.2 1.1 1.05 1.01

1
𝑦=
𝑥−1

Table C2 [1 mark] Investigating what happens to y as we approach x=1 “from below”

x 0.8 0.9 0.95 0.99

1
𝑦=
𝑥−1

In your own words, explain what important feature(s) of an asymptote this shows. You may find it helpful
to begin by explaining in one sentence what an asymptote is.

Comment C1 [1 mark]

Add the point defined by x=0.95 (x=0.99 does not give a nice graph for the marker to look at) on the
hyperbola to your number plane and copy your final plot below.

Graph C1 [1 mark]
Part D – Limits on x and y values of a graph

Question 1.

Sketch 𝑦 = √4 − 𝑥 2 and show the graph below. You may enter the square root into DESMOS using the
onscreen keyboard, or by typing sqrt(4-x^2) . (sqrt is short for SQuaRooT on many computer applications).

Graph D1 [1 mark]

Comment D1 Reading Values [2 Marks]

Read off the approximate value of y on the graph when x is 0.5:

Read off the approximate values of x on the graph when y=1 (there should be two points on the graph
corresponding to y=1):

You should notice that the graph lies between certain x values and certain y values. Not every x value and
not every y value defines a point on the graph. Mathematically we say it is only defined for certain x and y
values.

In the box below state the values that the graph of 𝑦 = √4 − 𝑥 2 lies between. You may find the word
inclusive useful in your answer.

Comment D2 [2 mark]

dD1
x values:

y values:
Question 2.

Sketch 𝑦 = √4 − 𝑥 and show the graph below.

Graph D2 [1 mark]

In the box below state the values that the graph of 𝑦 = √4 − 𝑥 lies between.

Sketch 𝑦 = √2 − 𝑥. For what set of x values is there a corresponding y value, so that (x,y) is on the graph?

Comment D3 [2 mark]

Domain:
dD1

Range:
For the next two parts of this assignment, you will need to know what a cubic graph is. A cubic is a graph of
the form
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 3 + 𝑏𝑥 2 + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑
Where a, b, c, d are called the coefficients. We insist that a is not zero (so that there is an 𝑥 3 term). You
should recognise that this definition is similar to that of a quadratic, but it includes an 𝑥 3 term. If a=1 then
the cubic is called monic.

Part E – Zeros
Question 1

Sketch the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 5 and insert below.

Graph E1 [1 mark]

How many x-intercepts (also called zeros) does the graph above have?

Comment E2 – Number of zeros? [1 mark]

Question 2

Try graphing the cubic 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 𝑐𝑥 + 5 and varying the slider c. Can you find a cubic with only 1
zero?

Graph E2 [1 mark]

Can you vary the slider c and find a cubic with exactly 2 zeroes?

Graph E3 [1 mark]

Question 3

Graph the cubic 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 5 again and estimate all the x-intercepts by seeing where the graph
cuts the x axis. Remember that clicking on the curve shows the coordinates at that point. Write down your
x-intercepts in the box below.

Comment E2 [1 mark]

Note that just as the monic parabola with x intercepts r and s has equation 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 𝑟)(𝑥 − 𝑠), the monic
cubic with x intercepts r, s and t has equation 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 𝑟)(𝑥 − 𝑠)(𝑥 − 𝑡).

Check your solution to the x intercepts above by sketching the factorised curve 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 𝑟)(𝑥 − 𝑠)(𝑥 − 𝑡),
where r, s, t are the x-intercepts you found, on top of the original cubic. Show your results below.
Graph E4 [1 mark]
 Part F – Turning Points
Question 1

Re-sketch the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 5 How many turning points does it have? A turning point is
where the graph turns around, that is, y changes from increasing to decreasing or decreasing to increasing
– just like a parabola does at its vertex.

Comment F3 – Number of turning points? [1 mark]

Now graph the cubic 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 𝑐𝑥 + 5 and again vary the slider c. Can you find a cubic with 0, 1, 2
and 3 turning points respectively? If you think it is not possible, say so. Include all your graphs and your
comments below.

Graphs and Comments F2 [2 mark]

Part G
Question 1

On the same axes, plot the curves 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 and 𝑦 = (2𝑎 − 𝑥)3 + 3(2𝑎 − 𝑥)2 for constant a. Notice
we have transformed the original curve by replacing x by 2𝑎 − 𝑥. Vary the slider and explain what single
transformation relates the two graphs. Include your graphs in your answer.

Graph G1 [1 mark]

Comment G4 [1 mark]