Polynomial Functions Photo Project

I want you to carefully examine the world around you to search for unexpected or hidden mathematical content within ordinary objects and surroundings.  You are to take a digital photo of something that has an underlying mathematical structure.

The photo you take should relate to mathematics in some way.  In order to demonstrate the relationships you see in the photo, you will edit the photo to overlay the mathematical function or component that you see in the photo.  Try to be creative and find a unique, fun or interesting subject to photo. 

Remember that the photo you use should be your own.  Uploading a photo from that you "find" on the internet is considered a violation of copy write and an infringement of digital property rights.

If you use a picture of someone, please make sure you have their permission.

Using a program called Geogebra, I want you to find an equation to describe your picture.

1. Take a picture. Keep it school-appropriate and something you could fit an equation to. Upload it to your computer.

2. Go to http://www.geogebra.org. Click on the download button. (Don’t worry – you don’t have to download the software unless you want to.)

3. Click on the Applet Start button. (Unless you want to download geogebra… then click webstart.)

4. The second button from the right looks like this: Click on the teeny tiny little triangle in the bottom right corner and drag down to Insert Image.

5. Click on the screen to insert your picture. The option should appear to choose a picture from your files.

6. Adjust your picture so that it fits your window and you can see the grid through it. Right click on your picture and go to

Object Properties. Go to the Position tab and enter the following values.

Go to the Style tab and adjust the transparency of your picture so that you can see the axes behind it.

7. Use the to add points to your picture that you would like your equation to go through.

8. To find the equation of your polynomial, enter the following command in the input bar at the bottom of your screen:

where A,B,C,D... are your points (list them all!) and the number at the end is the degree of the polynomial you wish to fit. You may need to change your degree to get a better fit. Play with it! (minimum 4th degree)

9. Paste your image (go to Edit, Copy to clipboard) onto a Word document. Copy the equation onto this document (Right-click on the equation and select “Copy to Input Bar” so you can then copy onto your document.).

10. Find the zeros of your function.

11. Find the end behavior of your function.

12. Save your file with your last name as the title.

13. Add a caption to your photo, print a copy to turn in (black & white is fine), and email me (KristenFouss@foresthills.edu) a copy.