Peer Review

Linear Graphing Utility

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Overview:: This is an animation tool for sketching the graphical solution of systems of linear inequalities and linear equalities. It is a useful tool to introduce the required graphing concepts for math classes. This material can be used in class as college algebra class activity, review session for pre-calculus class, or assignment for linear graphing lesson in a high school math class.
Type of Material:: Animation
Recommended Uses:: • An in-class or at home activity. • College algebra pre-class activity. • First week review session for pre-calculus class.
Technical Requirements:: (Google Chrome Version 43.0.2357.124 m) and (Internet Explorer 11 Version 11.0.9600.17843) were used on Windows 7 to view this MERLOT material. Adobe-Flash Player (Flash 7.0 or higher) was enabled on the above browsers.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Students will learn to practice sketching systems of linear inequalities and linear equalities. Students will use this tool as a guide for linear graphing assignments and other related topics in mathematics.
Target Student Population:: • General education mathematics students. • College lower division math classes such as intermediate or college algebra students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: The basics of linear equations and inequalities, and the desire to learn the basic concepts of linear graphing.

Rating:
Strengths:: • This tool presents the solution to systems of linear equalities and linear inequalities. • This tool makes the linear graphing concept easy to understand so that the student just needs to click on two points and the inequality and then another two points and another inequality and it will automatically graph the solution including dashed or solid lines as appropriate. • It shades in the solution set with a merged color for overlapping shading.
Concerns:: • The graphs do not include the scale of the axes and the coordinates of the points of intersection. • There is also no detailed information or even links to information provided that explains the concepts behind systems of linear inequalities so that students can understand what they are doing.

Rating:
Strengths:: • This activity can be used to get students acquainted with the visualization of the solution to systems of linear inequalities and equations. • Students will quickly realize the convention of using dashed and solid lines depending on whether the inequality is strict. • Students will also discover that each line splits the plane in two and how multiple inequalities can be looked at on the same xy-plane.
Concerns:: • Since the corresponding algebraic inequalities are not presented and there are no coordinates, then this activity has a narrow learning goal and can only be used for general visualization. • There are no assignments or practice quizzes in this site to give students an opportunity to practice their linear graphing skills.

Rating:
Strengths:: • Students can use this site easily so that they only need to click on two points on the graph and then select the inequality that they want it to be demonstrated. • The instructions are clear, and the ability to select a different color for each inequality makes visualization easy. • The instructions are provided at the top, bottom and via a help button.
Concerns:: None

Other Issues and Comments:: I would suggest that the site should be updated frequently to give more recent information about linear graphing concepts.
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