Cognitive Activator 1: The Broken Average
A teacher claims:
The average of five numbers is 8. If one number is removed, the new average becomes 6.
Task:
- Can you find the number that was removed?
Extension Questions:
- Could there be more than one solution?
- What assumptions are you making?
Cognitive Activator 2: Quadratic Puzzle
The product of two consecutive positive integers is equal to their sum plus 56.
Task:
- Find the integers.
Extension Questions:
- How can you turn this into an equation?
- What algebraic methods will help you solve this?
Cognitive Activator 3: Function Family Portraits
You're given the graph of f(x) = x², but no labels.
Task:
- Without using technology, sketch and explain how the graph changes for each:
1. f(x) = x² + 3
2. f(x) = 2x²
3. f(x) = (x - 2)²
4. f(x) = -x²
Extension:
- Which of these could represent a real-world scenario and why?
Cognitive Activator 4: Function Detective
A function has the following properties:
- It passes through the point (2, 5)
- Its gradient is always increasing
- It has a minimum value at x = 0
- It is symmetric about the y-axis
Task:
- What could the equation of the function be?
- Justify your reasoning.
- Could there be more than one possible function?