Algebra I
Activity:
Dinner Party
Posted on Jan 18, 2008
Topic: Linear Functions
In this activity, students investigate the total cost of a private party at each of three restaurants. Each restaurant states its pricing information differently, but all charge a flat room fee (represented by the y-intercept) plus a per guest plate fee (represented by the slope).
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Activity Key Steps:
Students are given a chart showing the cost of private parties with different numbers of guests.
Students are then prompted to make a scatter plot of this data and draw a line through the points. Next, students find the y-intercept of the line two ways: by estimating where the line crosses the y-axis and by viewing a function table.
In this problem, students are given the room and per plate fees and asked to calculate the cost of a party of 10 guests. They then write and graph an equation to model the cost at this restaurant. By adding a function table, they can check their equation against the cost they calculated for a party of 10.
Students are given one point on the line, in the form of the cost for a party of 5 guests, and the slope of the line, in the form of the per plate fee, and asked to write an equation in point-slope form. They simplify and graph this equation. Finally, they explore methods to check the equation using a function table and the handheld’s slope tool.