Mary and Claire reflect on how to modify a sine function to create a function that gives April’s height above the ground at any angle of rotation. They describe how the different parts of the function correspond to different features of the Ferris wheel.
Episode Supports
Focus Questions
For use in a classroom, pause the video and ask this question:
[Pause the video at 3:02] Use the function created by Claire and Mary to find the height of the rider on the Ferris wheel at 5𝜋/4 radians and 9𝜋/8 radians. Then compare your work with what Mary and Claire do.
Supporting Dialogue
[Pause the video at 0:40] Claire has written the function x • sin(n) + h. Restate in your own words what each piece of that function means. Do you agree with her that this will work for any Ferris wheel?