8th Grade  Project 1 week

"Zoom & Vroom: Car Math Quest"

Rigo G
CCSS.Math.Content.8.EE.B.5
CCSS.Math.Content.8.F.A.3
CCSS.Math.Content.8.F.B.4
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Purpose

Dive into the world of modern cars to explore and understand the mathematical concepts of proportional and linear relationships. By analyzing real-world data on car speed and acceleration, you'll uncover patterns and make connections to math standards. This project aims to enhance your ability to graph and interpret these relationships, fostering a deeper understanding of how math applies to everyday technology.

Learning goals

By the end of this project, you will be able to graph proportional relationships and interpret unit rates as slopes, using modern car models as examples. You will construct and analyze linear functions to model relationships between speed and acceleration, determining rates of change and initial values. Through visual displays and collaborative discussions, you will deepen your understanding of how math concepts apply to real-world scenarios involving car dynamics.
Standards
  • CCSS.Math.Content.8.EE.B.5 - Graph proportional relationships, interpreting the unit rate as the slope of the graph. Compare two different proportional relationships represented in different ways.
  • CCSS.Math.Content.8.F.A.3 - Interpret the equation y = mx + b as defining a linear function, whose graph is a straight line; give examples of functions that are not linear.
  • CCSS.Math.Content.8.F.B.4 - Construct a function to model a linear relationship between two quantities. Determine the rate of change and initial value of the function from a description of a relationship or from two (x, y) values, including reading these from a table or from a graph. Interpret the rate of change and initial value of a linear function in terms of the situation it models, and in terms of its graph or a table of values.

Products

Throughout the project, you will create detailed graphs and tables that illustrate the proportional relationships and linear functions of different car models' speed and acceleration. By the end of the learning experience, you will compile these into a visual display that effectively compares two car models, showcasing your understanding of the mathematical concepts. Additionally, you will prepare a presentation for the gallery walk to explain your findings and interpretations to your peers.

Launch

Begin by visiting a local car dealership or inviting a guest speaker who works in the automotive industry to discuss the latest car models and their performance metrics. Engage in a hands-on activity where you collect data on speed and acceleration from different car models, either through simulations or real-world observations. Use this data to spark curiosity and initiate discussions about how these metrics can be represented through graphs and tables, setting the stage for exploring proportional and linear relationships in the project.

Exhibition

Organize an interactive car expo where you present your visual displays comparing the speed and acceleration of different car models. Invite classmates, teachers, and family members to explore your findings and ask questions about the proportional relationships and linear functions you've analyzed. Use this opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the math concepts and how they apply to real-world scenarios in modern car models.