Function Family Album & Scrapbook

This project covers the following standards:

MM1A1. Students will explore and interpret the characteristics of functions, using graphs, tables, and simple algebraic techniques.
a. Represent functions using function notation.
b. Graph the basic functions f(x) = xn where n = 1 to 3, f(x) =√x, f(x) =│x│, and f(x) = 1/x.
c. Graph transformations of basic functions including vertical shifts, stretches, and shrinks, as well as reflections across the x- and y-axes.
d. Investigate and explain the characteristics of a function: domain, range, zeros, intercepts, intervals of increase and decrease, maximum and minimum
values, and end behavior.
e. Relate to a given context the characteristics of a function, and use graphs and tables to investigate its behavior.

Goal: Create a scrapbook for six function families. Your scrapbook will include detailed graphs, characteristics, the
effects of transformations, and tables of values.

A family photo album tells the visual story of a

family. Your album will tell the visual story of 6
families:

 Linear
 Absolute Value
 Quadratic
 Cubic
 Radical
 Rational

Because each function is the parent of a family, you

will also investigate the function’s children. For
example, linear functions have 3 children, shown below:

Parent Linear

Reflect
Children
Vertical Shift
Stretch &
Shrink
(across x-
axis)

So, there you have it: make a family album for all 6 families, including listing their children and everyone’s statistics.
Refer to the rubric to learn how to complete the project.

1
 [This project is a metaphor, which is language that connects unrelated subjects. The metaphor here is that every
function is described as a family using the language of families to help you understand functions. “America is a melting
pot” is an example of a metaphor.]

Sample Page: Linear Function

Straight Line (but we call him “Dad”)

This vertical stretch

This vertical shift of +3 increases the
increases the slope of
y-intercept by 3.
the line by 2

If I were a function, I would be

approximately f(x) = -2x 2
Rubric
Project: Function Family Album & Scrapbook
Student(s): _________________________________________________________________________
Standard
MM1A1a Represent functions
using function notation
MM1A1b Graph the six parent
functions
MM1A1c Graph transformations
of the six parent functions
MM1A1d Investigate/Explain
characteristics of a function:
domain, range, zeros,
intercepts, intervals of increase
& decrease, maximum &
minimum values, and end
behavior
MM1A1e Relate to a given
context the characteristics of a
function and use graphs/tables
to investigate behavior
Date: ________________________________
What it means for this project Points
Use f(x) notation whenever giving a function. 10%
For each parent function, draw an accurate graph 25%
showing the x-axis from -5 to 5 (no approximate
sketches, please).
For each parent function, demonstrate all the 25%
transformations (vertical shifts, stretches/shrinks,
reflections across x-axis) on a graph.
Describe the characteristics of the parent functions as 25%
well as how each transformation affects each
characteristic. For example, “a vertical shift of n units
on a linear graph changes the y-intercept by n units.”
You may show this with a picture (graph) or describe it
using words.
For each parent function, provide a picture (from a 15%
magazine, for example) that resembles the function.
Provide either a table of possible values OR list all the
characteristics (see MM1A1d, above for a complete
list). Note: for variety, the overall project must include
3 tables and 3 lists of characteristics.