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Year 11
Foundation

Problem solving with real-life graphs

I can use my knowledge of interpreting real-life graphs to solve problems.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 11
Foundation

Problem solving with real-life graphs

I can use my knowledge of interpreting real-life graphs to solve problems.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Real life graphs present a visual model of a situation.
  2. Linear graphs are not always the best representation.
  3. The different parts of the graph describe different parts of the whole situation.

Common misconception

When matching, or sketching, distance-time and speed-time graphs pupils may think these have a similar shape.

Questioning helps. Ask pupils to explain what is happening on a variety of graphs. For example, "A diagonal line with positive gradient on a speed-time graph. What is happening?" "A horizontal line on distance-time graph. What is happening?"

Keywords

  • Linear - The relationship between two variables is linear if, when plotted on a pair of axes, a straight line is formed.

  • Gradient - The gradient is a measure of how steep a line is. It is calculated by finding the rate of change in the $$y$$-direction with respect to the positive $$x$$-direction.

There is a great opportunity here to get pupils physically active. Take the pupils outside and ask one pupil to model a journey. "I'd like you to go slow for ten metres, fast for ten metres, stop a short time, then go slow for ten metres". Then, ask the rest of the class to sketch the graphs.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
A linear graph like this shows __________ between $$x$$ and $$y$$.
An image in a quiz
no relationship
Correct answer: a constant rate of change
indirect proportion
Q2.
A constant rate of change on a distance-time graph shows __________.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: constant speed
increasing speed
acceleration
a stop
Q3.
This distance-time graph shows the journey of a cyclist. When were they travelling fastest?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: a
b
c
Q4.
This distance-time graph shows the journey of a cyclist. When did the cyclist stop?
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a
Correct answer: b
c
Q5.
A horizontal line on this graph represents __________.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: a constant speed
a stop
acceleration
deceleration
Q6.
This speed-time graph shows the journey of a car. When is it travelling fastest?
An image in a quiz
a
b
c
Correct answer: d

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
This graph shows __________ rate of change between speed and time.
An image in a quiz
a decreasing
an increasing
a fast
Correct answer: a constant
Q2.
Which speed-time graph matches this distance-time graph?
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q3.
Which distance-time graph matches this speed-time graph?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q4.
Match these descriptions to the graph of this car journey.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:Fastest constant speed,d

d

Correct Answer:Acceleration,c

c

Correct Answer:Deceleration,a

a

Correct Answer:Slowest constant speed,b

b

Q5.
Which moment represents the longest stop on this displacement-time graph?
An image in a quiz
a
Correct answer: b
c
d
e
Q6.
Which section shows the fastest speed?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: a
b
c
d
e