Exponents and Scientific Notation

Lesson 4

Math

Unit 1

8th Grade

Lesson 4 of 15

Objective


Investigate exponent patterns to write equivalent expressions.

Common Core Standards


Core Standards

  • 8.EE.A.1 — Know and apply the properties of integer exponents to generate equivalent numerical expressions. For example, 3² × 3-5 = 3-3 = 1/3³ = 1/27.

Foundational Standards

  • 6.EE.A.1

Criteria for Success


  1. Use understanding of exponents and the four operations to expand and simplify expressions.
  2. Use the fact that any (nonzero) number divided by itself is equal to 1 to simplify expressions.
  3. Look for and make use of structure that exists with exponentials in order to write equivalent expressions (MP.7).
  4. Look for and make sense of repeated reasoning with exponentials in order to write equivalent expressions (MP.8).

Tips for Teachers


  • The purpose of this lesson is to get students investigating and exploring exponential expressions using a wide range of strategies that they have from prior experience. This exploration and self-discovery will support students in their longer-term understandings of how to simplify exponential expressions, rather than relying on memorized rules. Therefore, the focus of the lesson should be placed on the process and communication that students use, and it is ok if students do not walk away with clear answers or rules. Exponent properties will be covered more thoroughly in the lessons that follow.
  • Students will likely “find” some of the rules for exponents as they investigate different examples. While students are not expected to name or formalize any rules in this lesson, they should be encouraged to discuss, share, and celebrate the patterns or rules they find. 
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Anchor Problems

25-30 minutes


Problem 1

What is the value of the expression:

$${3^52^33^22^2\over{3^32^53^4}}$$

Guiding Questions

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Student Response

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References

Problem 2

The following statements are incorrect. For each statement,

  • Identify the mistake(s).
  • Correct the statement.
  • Justify or show your reasoning.

a.   $${8^3(8^5)=8^{15}}$$

b.   $${2^4\cdot 3^4=6^8}$$

Guiding Questions

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Student Response

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References

Divisible By 3 Thank You Math Mistakes

Thank You Math Mistakes is made available by Andrew Stadel on Divisible by 3 under the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license. Accessed Aug. 4, 2017, 9:49 a.m..

Problem Set

15-20 minutes


Give your students more opportunities to practice the skills in this lesson with a downloadable problem set aligned to the daily objective.

Target Task

5-10 minutes


Jake believes that $${{30^5\over30^4}\times 30 =1}$$.

Do you agree with Jake? If yes, explain why he is correct. If not, then give the correct answer and an argument to convince Jake that your answer is correct.

Student Response

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Additional Practice


The following resources include problems and activities aligned to the objective of the lesson that can be used for additional practice or to create your own problem set.

  • Have students explore with writing complex exponent terms that evaluate or simplify to a value like 1 or 4 or 25, etc. Students can write expressions and swap them with partners. 
  • Divisible By 3 Thank You Math MistakesDay 1 handout; this mirrors Anchor Problem 2. Some problems include exponents that students will most likely not have seen before. The purpose of this exercise is investigative and explorative. Students are not expected to walk away with any rules.

Next

Apply the product of powers rule and the quotient of powers rule to write equivalent, simplified exponential expressions.

Lesson 5
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Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

Topic A: Review of Exponents

Topic B: Properties of Exponents

Topic C: Scientific Notation

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