TRACKER
Worksheet 1:
Instructions and Tips




TRACKER is an equation-graphing game. Graphs are hidden on a coordinate grid. You enter their equations to "track" them.

You get clues to the graphs' locations by using "probe shots." Probe shots are equations of horizontal or vertical lines.

When a probe shot crosses a hidden graph, it marks that point with an X or an 0.

The types of graphs you choose include the following:
.straight line
.parabola
.circle
.ellipse
.hyperbola (two kinds)



There are three levels of difficulty:

Practice is a good place to start. You choose the type of hidden graph. Either one or two graphs are hidden on the grid. No score is kept.

Novice Game allows you to choose two types of graphs. Three graphs are hidden on the grid (two of one type and one of the other). One type of graph is marked by X's and the other by O's when hit by a probe. When you have enough clues, you send a tracker along the graph by entering its equation.

Expert Game chooses the two types of graphs at random, so you'll need to discover what type they are as well as where they are! You choose how many graphs are hidden, three through six.



Scoring

You score points for correctly tracking each graph:
Graph Type         Points Scored  
straight line      30 points   
parabola           35 points   
circle             40 points  
ellipse            45 points         
hyperbola          50 points

------------------------------

You lose points for each probe 
and for incorrect trackers:  

Action               Points Lost
first probe          1 point
second probe         2 points
third probe          3 points
..and so forth
incorrect tracker    10 points
			


Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher