# Math Help - Cubics!

1. ## Cubics!

Task 1: Cubics in the form y=ax^3

a) use technology to assist you to draw sketch graphs for y=ax^3 when a= 1,-1,3,-4, 1/2, -1/3

b) what is the geometrical significance of a in y=ax^3? (comment on the sign and size of a)

2. Hello Tessarina
Originally Posted by Tessarina
Task 1: Cubics in the form y=ax^3

a) use technology to assist you to draw sketch graphs for y=ax^3 when a= 1,-1,3,-4, 1/2, -1/3

b) what is the geometrical significance of a in y=ax^3? (comment on the sign and size of a)
What technology do you have available? Many calculators will produce the graphs of these functions for you, with very little effort on your part.

I always use Excel for things like this. I attach a diagram, showing on a single graph, the functions $y = x$ and $y = -4x$, which I produced using Excel in two or three minutes.

Once you have sketched these graphs, study them carefully, looking for similarities and differences between them. You should then be able to find some answers to (b).