Roller Coaster Project

Polynomial Roller Coaster using DESMOS

1. Draw a roller coaster on Desmos. Be creative with your design (at least 3 different
functions). You may only use parent functions and their transformations.
2. Write the piecewise function that models your roller coaster. Be sure to include the
domain of each piece.
3. Be sure your graph is a function. The graph may start above the ground and go
below ground level (tunnels?). Use an x-scale and a y-scale. Print your roller coaster.

4. Color the path of the polynomial blue where it is increasing, red where the graph is
decreasing, and black where it is constant. Then state the intervals for each.

5. State the intervals where the function is positive and where the function is negative.
6. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
Use math terms to explain your reasoning!
1) What part of your roller coaster looks the most exciting? Why?

2) Which part of your roller coaster looks the least exciting? Why?

3) How did you get your functions to meet up to continue the ride?

4) Which function was the easiest to use?

5) Which transformations did you use and why?

6) What do your zeroes (x-intercepts) represent on your roller coaster?

7) Do you think people would enjoy your roller coaster? Why or why not?

8) What types of functions are good for what aspect of a roller coaster? Why?

9) What might a roller coaster designer need to consider when making plans
for a roller coaster?

10) What suggestions or advice would you give someone doing this project
next year? (Must be helpful a.k.a. something they could actually use)
Comments:
5pts Excellent 4pts Great 3pts Average 2pts Needs
Improvement
1pt-0pt
Poor or Missing
Neatness,
Creativity,
Follows
Directions

All work is done
neatly (legibly).
Graph is labeled
correctly.
Rollercoaster
shows creativity
and ingenuity in
design
Nearly all work is
neatly done.
Graph is nearly
all labeled
correctly.
Rollercoaster
shows creativity
in design
Most of the work
is done neatly.
Graph is mostly
labeled correctly.
Rollercoaster
shows some
creativity.
Little of the
work is done
neatly. Graph
has few labels.
Rollercoaster
lacks creativity
Barely any work is
done neatly. The
graph is barely
labeled. Rollercoaster
is completely without
creativity.

Missing = 0
Colored
sections of
increasing,
decreasing,
and constant
intervals
All sections are
colored
correctly.
1 section is not
colored correctly
2 or 3 sections
are not colored
correctly
4 or more
sections are not
colored
correctly
No sections are
colored correctly

Missing =0
Positive and
negative
intervals
stated

All intervals for
positive and
negative
sections are
stated correctly
Nearly all the
sections are
stated correctly
Most of the
sections are
stated correctly
Few of the
sections are
stated correctly
None of the sections
are stated correctly

Missing = 0
Correct
piecewise
function
including
domain
Piecewise
functions are
corrected listed
including
domains
Piecewise
functions are
nearly all listed
correctly with
their domains
Piecewise
functions are
mostly listed
correctly with
their domains
Piecewise
functions are
mostly not listed
correctly with
their domains
Piecewise functions
are not listed correctly

Missing = 0
Piecewise
function has at
least three
different types
of functions
Piecewise
function uses 3
or more types of
functions
Piecewise
function uses 3
types of
functions
Piecewise
function uses 2
types of
functions
Piecewise
function uses 1
type of function
Piecewise function
uses only one function
at all
Missing = 0
All ten
questions
answered fully
All ten questions
are answered
using complete
sentences,
explain the
reasoning fully,
and answer the
question
correctly
Nearly all of the
ten questions use
complete
sentences,
explain the
reasoning fully,
and answer the
question
correctly
Most of the ten
questions use
complete
sentences,
explain the
reasoning fully,
and answer the
question
correctly
Few of the ten
questions use
complete
sentences,
explain the
reasoning fully,
and answer the
question
correctly
Barely any of the ten
questions use
complete sentences,
explain the reasoning
fully, and answer the
question correctly
Missing =0
All ten
questions
answered
using
mathematical
terms
All ten questions
use
mathematical
terms accurately
to correctly
explain
reasoning
Nearly all ten
questions use
mathematical
terms accurately
to correctly
explain reasoning
Most of the ten
questions use
mathematical
terms accurately
to correctly
explain reasoning
Few of the ten
questions use
mathematical
terms accurately
to correctly
explain
reasoning
Barely any of the ten
questions use
mathematical terms
accurately to correctly
explain reasoning

Missing =0
Total:
/35