First, we went over the following graphic organizer and highlighted x1, y1, and slope. As a class, we went over student’s common misconceptions on using the formula.
After the graphic organizer, we went over the foldable pictured below.
We completed a matching activity where students had to identify the equation in slope-intercept form and in point-slope form when given the slope and a point. Students approached this activity in different ways. About half of the students solved for ‘y’ once they figured out the equation in point-slope form and the other half just ignored the point-slope form and plugged the point and slope into slope-intercept form to get their other equation.
Below is a picture of a student who chose to solve for ‘y’.
For students who still did not understand point-slope form, I gave them a basic template (y – __ = ___ (x – ___)) and had them plug in their missing values. For some reason, students understood how to use the formula when I gave them the template and only had to use it several times before they quit using the template altogether.
Does your district require you to teach point-slope form?
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