Lesson 1

Predictions from Graphs

Est. Class Sessions: 2

Extension

Students can look up the distance of winning long jumps on the web or in an Olympic record book and add any new data points to the graph on the Olympic Long Jump Master. The class can also investigate the times and distances of other Olympic events by making graphs and looking for patterns.

Students can investigate the following questions:

X
  • Is the pattern of points on the graph still the same?
  • Has Bob Beamon's record been broken in the Olympics? Where will the point be on the graph?

Bob Beamon made his record jump at the 1968 Olympic Games. In 1991, Mike Powell of the United States jumped farther than Bob Beamon at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Outdoor Championship in Tokyo. He jumped 29 feet 4.5 inches (8.95 meters). Since this event was not part of any Olympic Games, Mike Powell broke the world record, but not Bob Beamon's Olympic record.

Ask:

X
  • If Mike Powell's jump had been part of the Olympics, where would it go on the graph? Does it follow the pattern of the other points?
  • Does this information change your prediction of when Bob Beamon's Olympic Record will be broken?
  • Has Mike Powell's World Record been broken?
Student Guide:
Student Activity Book:
Master: