Graphing Cubic Functions WORKSHEET

Suitable for Grades: Algebra II, IM 3
CCSS: HSF.IF.C.7.B, HSF.LE.A.2
CCSS Description: Graph square root, cube root, and piecewise-defined functions, including step functions and absolute value functions.

Construct linear and exponential functions, including arithmetic and geometric sequences, given a graph, a description of a relationship, or two input‑output pairs (include reading these from a table).

Graphing Cubic Functions WORKSHEET DESCRIPTION

This assignment will see students using tables of values to generate coordinate pairs in order to plot cubic functions on a variety of differently scaled axes. The functions that learners will be plotting increase in difficulty as the worksheet progresses from y = x^3 - 1 to y = x^3 + 2x^2 - 4, and there are six functions to plot in total. In each case, the x values range from -2 to 2, and the table of values is already constructed for students alongside a separate pair of axes.

We have included a section on use of a calculator, which will guide your students through getting the most from their scientific calculators and using them to generate tables of values.