Beacon Lesson Plan Library
How Fast Does Your Race Car Go?
Johnny Wolfe
Santa Rosa District Schools
Description
Students are given average winning speeds for even-number years. The students then graph, determine a line of best fit, interpolate, extrapolate, write an equation in slope-intercept form, and predict winning speeds.
Objectives
Designs and performs real-world statistical experiments that involve more than one variable, then analyzes results and reports findings.
Materials
-Grid paper
-One copy of the Fast Freddy's Statistics Worksheet for each student (See Associated File)
-Straightedge
Preparations
1. Have grid paper for all students.
2. Copy Fast Freddy's Statistics Worksheet for all students. (See Associated File)
3. Have straightedges for all students.
Procedures
Prior Knowledge: Students should be familiar with plotting ordered pairs and writing equations in slope-intercept form. This lesson is designed to analyze results and report findings, not to teach graphing and writing equations.
1. Get students' attention by making the statement: “We are going to spend the weekend at Fast Freddy’s Motor Speedway.”
2. Review techniques for graphing ordered pairs.
3. Review techniques for writing equations in slope-intercept form.
4. Distribute grid paper and Fast Freddy's Statistics Worksheet to students. (See Associated File)
5. The students plot the data as ordered pairs. The year is the x-coordinate and the speed is the y-coordinate. The first ordered pair would be (1912, 78.72).
6. The students draw a line of best fit. The number of points above and below the line should be about the same.
7. From the line of best fit, the students interpolate the data and predict the average winning speed for the year 1977.
8. From the line of best fit, the students extrapolate the data and predict the average winning speed for the year 1995.
9. From the line of best fit, the students choose two points and write an equation in slope-intercept form.
10. From the slope-intercept equation, the students predict the average wining speed for the year 2002.
Assessments
Student worksheet and graph are graded using Fast Freddy's Answer Sheet and scored according to Fast Freddy's Checklist. (See Associated File)
Extensions
Have students research other racing events and make predictions about upcoming events.
Web Links
Web supplement for How Fast Does Your Race Car Go? Decades of racing
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