"Highway Safety"

1. Task

   1. Background:
      You have recently set up a consulting firm that specializes in providing mathematical assistance to businesses and individuals.  One of your clients, The New England Coalition for Highway Safety, has begun a study of whether or not the fines assessed to motorists who exceed the speed limit are an important factor in determining highway safety.  The have sent you the attached memo asking for your assistance.

   2. Task:
      Your task is to analyze the data provided in the memo and to answer the questions the Coalition has regarding the speeding fines assessed in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

   3. Alignment to Standards:

      1. Data and Logic:  Patterns

         1. Object #6:  Analyze relationships to describe how one quantity changes as a result of a change in another, write equations to describe the rules for number patterns and functions, including those involving integers and exponents, and graphs the relationships using paper-and-pencil and graphing calculator techniques.

         2. Object #9:  Collect data and identify and use patterns in tables, spreadsheet, and graphs to write equations (formulas) for relationships and to solve problems.

      2. Data and Logic:  Graphs

         1. Object #27:  Graph a function on the Cartesian coordinate system to show how a change in one quantity results in a change in another.

   4. Purpose:
      The purpose of your presentation is to provide information that can be used in the Coalition's study of highway safety.  Your work will be an important part of their research on this subject, so you should be sure that it is done accurately and that your findings are presented clearly.

   5. Audience:  
      Your audience is Mr. Mark Biagioni, the executive director of The New England Coalition for Highway Safety.

2. Access Information: Procedure Analyze & Organize

   1. Procedures:

      1. Carefully read the attached memo from Mr. Biagioni.

      2. Use the given data to find the equations used by both the State of Connecticut and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to determine the fines to be paid by speeders.

      3. Use your formulas to answer the other questions posed by Mr. Biagioni in his memo.

      4. Create a graph that shows the fines for each state.  You may use a computer program, such as Microsoft Excel, or you may create your graph by hand using the attached graph paper.

      5. On the graph, label the points for the minimum and maximum fines for each state.  In addition, you should label the point where the fines are equal.

      6. Write a memo to Mr. Biagioni that clearly answers all of his questions.  You should also clearly explain the procedures you used to obtain your results.

      7. Evaluate your work using the assessment list for Highway Safety.

   2. Resources:  

      Need to enter Textbook or information to reference the Highway Safety Task.

3. Produce & Deliver: Assess, Evaluate, & Modify

   1. Assessment List

      • View the Assessment List & Memo from Mr. Biagioni 

   2. Examples of Student Work by Standards [Grade 8 Probability]

 Next Step: Please click on the student group level below you want to view.

• Sample of Below Standard

• Sample of At Standard

• Sample of Above Standard

3. Feedback [View after viewing student work]

 The above Links are currently under construction, please check back soon to view the student work examples!

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Revised: 07/08/2005