How Do I Use This Activity?

This activity allows the user to use various controls to manipulate a linear function graphically.

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Controls and Output

• There is a graph at the top of the activity. Below the graph, are various slider bars. The blue slider bar can be moved left and right with the mouse, and permits the user to change the location of the point along the line.
  

• The purple slider below and to the left allows the user to manipulate the slope of the line. The green slider allows the user to manipulate the intercept of the line. Note how the function and the graph change when you manipulate the slope and intercept sliders.
  

• At the bottom there are two check boxes. The Show Trace box, when activated, allows the user to see the various intermediate stages as a line is moved from one place to another. The Link Sliders box allows the slope and intercept sliders to be linked, so that by moving one slider, both are changed.
  

• By clicking the Clear Trace button, the user can clear the traces that are left on the graph after using the Show Trace feature.