5.

6 Intro

Slope-Intercept Form
Pattern #1

1.

Take a look at this pattern on your own. Think about what is changing from figure to figure.
Can you predict what figure 0 and figure 4 will look like? Discuss your observations and
predictions with your group members and once everyone agrees, draw in figure 0 and
figure 4.

2.

How is the pattern growing? After discussing with your teammates, shade in the tiles that
are new in each figure using a colored pencil.

3.

If we use x to represent the figure number, can you write an equation that will give the total
number of tiles in any figure?
Pattern #2

1.

As for the previous pattern, discuss this pattern with your group how is it changing?
What will future figures look like? Once everyone agrees, draw Figure 0 and Figure 4.

2.

How is the pattern growing? After discussing with your group members, shade in the tiles
that are new in each figure using a different color than for pattern #1.

3.

If we use x to represent the figure number and y to represent the total number of tiles, can
you write an equation that will relate x and y?
5.6 Intro continued
Pattern #3

1.

Again, discuss with your group and once everyone agrees, draw Figure 0 and Figure 4.

2.

Discuss with the group and shade in the tiles that are new in each figure using a color not
used for the other two patterns.

3.

Write an equation for this pattern where x is the figure number and y is the number of tiles
in that figure.

Use the table below to organize your data. For each pattern, give the equation and the number of
tiles in figures 0 through 4.

Figure
#
0
1
2
3
4

Pattern 1
y = ___________

Pattern 2
y = ___________

Pattern 3
y = ___________

Now, use your table to make a graph of the patterns (on the next page) using a different color for
each line. Dont forget to make a scale and label the axes.

5.6 Intro continued

5.6 Intro continued

Assessment of Pattern Activity:
1.

What is the slope of each pattern?

Pattern 1: _____

2.

Pattern 2: _____

Pattern 3: ______

How does the slope show up in

a.
the drawing? ____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
b.

the equation? ______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________
c.

the table?

______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________
d.

the graph?

______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________
3.

What is the y-intercept of each pattern?

Pattern 1: _____

4.

Pattern 2: _____

Pattern 3: ______

How does the y-intercept show up in

a. the drawing? ______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. the equation? ______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
c. the table?

______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________
d. the graph?
5)

6)

______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________
All of the equations that you have written in this activity are in slope-intercept form
(y = mx + b). Why do you think that this form of an equation has this name? What does the
m stand for? What does the b stand for?

Each of the following equations represents another linear pattern. For each one, state the
starting number (aka y-intercept) and the grow-by number (aka slope).

a)

y = 5x 6

b)

y = -2x

c)

3y 2x = 12 (careful!!)