Factoring With a Graphing Calculator

 I have a confession to make.

My graphing calculator comes with a bunch of powerful features I've never used.

There, I said it! I feel better.

The good news is, there are a bunch of resources online to help.

The two heavyweights are Texas Instruments and Desmos, and both have amazing free resources for educators.

Let's start with TI. In addition to an entire educational hub available on their website, they have downloadable activities for the classroom, professional development webinars, and electronic versions of their product manuals, all free. Because TI calculators are ubiquitous in most of the classrooms I've been in, these resources can really save time and help students focus on the calculator instead of other devices. Nice!

Desmos has built their platform around a mission to improve mathematics education for everyone, and their commitment to equity shines through in everything they do. I love their teacher dashboard, where you can browse learning activities and even create your own. I've used their activities in the classroom with students, and I love the features they've built to help students explore math concepts.

Now, having said all that, I do know a little about my calculator and if you are teaching factoring of quadratic trinomials, you and/or your students might benefit from this short video I put together on the concept.


I demonstrate how to factor a quadratic trinomial where a = 1, as well as how to use the calculator to not only generate all the factor pairs for a number, but also add the factors automatically. I hope you find it useful.

Also: if you are teaching a unit on quadratics, you might find my new X-Puzzle and Parts of a Parabola resources helpful with your students.


X-Puzzle/Factoring Guided Notes: Use this fill-in guided notes activity to build your students’ understanding of how to factor trinomials. This two-page scaffolded assignment introduces the concept of factoring visually by working X Puzzles, where students find two whole-number factors of one number which add to make another number. This helps them develop a key skill which they will use when factoring quadratic trinomials where a = 1. Full key included. Aligns with Common Core State Standards CCSS A-SSE.3a and CCSS F-IF.8a for high school math.




Parts of a Parabola Guided Notes: Help your students identify and understand key features of graphs belonging to quadratic functions with this fill-in guided notes activity. Concepts are demonstrated with a focus on the relationships between elements and how students can use parts of one to find another. Features shown and vocabulary terms defined include vertex, axis of symmetry, minimum/
maximum, y-intercept/starting value, domain, range, x-intercepts/roots/zeros, as well as the a- and c-values from the equation. Full key included as well as a bonus classroom poster to keep concepts front of mind for students. Aligns with Common Core State Standards CCSS F-IF.1, CCSS F-IF.2, CCSS F-IF.4, CCSS F-IF.7a and CCSS F-IF.7c for high school math.


Are you a calculator expert? What do your students enjoy most about the graphing calculator? Let me know in the comments!

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