Will Social Security still be around when you retire? Given data on the predicted balance of the social security fund over time, scholars plot the points on a coordinate grid and determine if a quadratic regression fits the data. They then estimate the amount in the fund in 2070 based on the trend.

Concepts

regression analysis, linear functions, quadratic functions

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Additional Tags

math

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Instructional Ideas

• Have learners research more recent data (resource uses a 2012 report) to see if the trend still applies
  

Classroom Considerations

• Requires an understanding of linear and quadratic regression
• Instructors may wish to provide calculators for the worksheet
  

Pros

• Uses actual government data, showing how math is important in the real world
  
• Rubric includes correct answers and point value distributions
  

Cons

• Part of the table that learners are supposed to complete is already filled in
  

Common Core

HSS-ID.B.6.a