Great article Mike - thank you so much! Another cool use of Desmos relates to a question from one of the DSAT Bluebook tests. It asks you to (basically) find the unknown number that makes the mean equal to the median for a set of numbers. A bit tedious with algebra but a snap with Desmos. You would type in one line in Demos mean(2,3,4,5,x)=median(2,3,4,5,x). (Not the numbers from the problem.)
You can also use it for percents which I think will help a lot of students for whom percents are mysterious. When you type the % symbol, it automatically inserts "of." So if the question asks what is 75% of 253, you just type 75% (it inserts of) 253 = x. Or for a different question, you can type 35=72% (it inserts of) x, and Desmos will calculate it.
Great examples! I also think there are a ton of easy questions that can be taught (or checked) with Desmos. And it's great for when you're halfway through the problem and need to bail yourself out...
Great article Mike - thank you so much! Another cool use of Desmos relates to a question from one of the DSAT Bluebook tests. It asks you to (basically) find the unknown number that makes the mean equal to the median for a set of numbers. A bit tedious with algebra but a snap with Desmos. You would type in one line in Demos mean(2,3,4,5,x)=median(2,3,4,5,x). (Not the numbers from the problem.)
You can also use it for percents which I think will help a lot of students for whom percents are mysterious. When you type the % symbol, it automatically inserts "of." So if the question asks what is 75% of 253, you just type 75% (it inserts of) 253 = x. Or for a different question, you can type 35=72% (it inserts of) x, and Desmos will calculate it.
Great examples! I also think there are a ton of easy questions that can be taught (or checked) with Desmos. And it's great for when you're halfway through the problem and need to bail yourself out...