Precalculus – Photo Project



Precalculus – Photo Project[pic]

Objective: Carefully examine the world around you to search for unexpected or hidden mathematical content within ordinary objects and surroundings. You are to take digital photos of things with underlying mathematical structure.

Groups: You should find a partner to work with (make sure at least one of you has access to a digital camera or cell phone camera).

You need 4 photos total per group: (choose one trig function, one polynomial function, and two other functions from the list).

• A Trig Function Photo: This should look like a sin, cos, tan, cot, sec, or csc graph.

• A Polynomial Function Photo: This photo should show a polynomial function (either a quadratic, cubic, or quartic).

• Another function Photo:

Rational Functions

Irrational Functions

Absolute-Value Functions

Piecewise Defined Functions

Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

The Photos: The photos you take should relate to mathematics in some way. In order to demonstrate the relationships you see in the photos, you will edit them using a program like MS Paint to overlay the mathematical function or component that you see. You must use mathematical regression to calculate the polynomial equation (include a table). You must find the amplitude, period, phase shift, and vertical shift of the trig function. On the other photos you must show how you derived the equation. Try to be creative and find a unique, fun or interesting subject to photo.

NO PHOTOS OF PEOPLE! It’s a privacy issue.

• Remember that the photos you use should be your own. They should be intentionally taken with an equation in mind. Uploading a photo that you “find” on the internet is considered a violation of copyright and an infringement of digital property rights.

• If you don’t have access to Microsoft Paint on your computer, there are some great free online photo editing tools. Both Picnik () and FotoFlexer () are free, easy to use and fun. If you have access to Geometer’s Sketchpad or Autograph, these are also tools to overlay function onto pictures.

You will put your project in a folder/portfolio and will have the following:

1) Title page

2) 4 photo pages (all done on the computer- no writing on the pages)

a) photo and graph overlay (show x & y axis and equation –do this on the computer)

b) description of the photo (include when, where, by whom the photo was taken, and a description of what is in the photo)

c) the mathematical setup for calculating the equation

3) Reflective essay (each group member should have their own individual essay)

This project adapted from -you can view examples of work here

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