Exponents Discovery

Monday, October 07, 2013 10:54 AM

Part 1
In the activity for Part 1 of the Exponents Discovery, I learned the simple way to write expanded multiplication. When written this way, there is many words that show the different parts. These words were also learned along with the rest of the lesson.
What is a base?

A base is the number being multiplied when written in exponential form

What is a power?

A power is an indicator that a base is being multiplied multiple times

What does a base and power (exponent) tell you to do? This tells you to multiply the base by itself as many times as the exponent tells you to

What is a power a shortcut to? A power is a shortcut to expanded multiplication

How could you use geometry to describe squaring or cubing a number?

To help your better understanding geometry could be used in many ways. One of them could be using shapes that represent a number. This could help a more visual person understand more clearly.

Introduction to Exponents Page 1

Part 2
Base 2 Exponent Meaning 4
3 2 2 2 1

Value

2*2*2*2 2*2*2

16 8

2*2

2*1

2 0 2 -1 2 -2 2 -3 2 -4 2

2/2

2*-1

-2

2*-2

-4

2*-2*-2

2*-2*-2*-2 -16

Part 3 1. What do you get when you add x by x? X*2 2. What do you get when you subtract x by x? 0 3. What do you get when you multiply x by x? 4. What do you get when you divide x by x? 1 5. What do you get when you multiply x by x by x? 6. What about x by x by x by x by x?

Introduction to Exponents Page 2

7. What do you get when you multiply x^2 by x?

8. What about when you multiply x^2 by x^3?

9. What about when you multiply x^4 by x^6?

10. Come up with a rule that explains what happens when you multiply same bases.

1. What about when you multiply x^4 by x^2?

2. What do you get when you divide x^5 by x^3? 3. What about when you divide x^6 by x?
4. Come up with a rule that explains what happens when you divide same bases.

1. What do you get when you square x^3? 2. What do you get when you square x^4? 3. What do you get when you cube x^2? 4. What do you get when you raise x^3 to the fourth power? 5. What do you get when you raise x^2 to the fifth power?

6. Come up with a rule that explains what happens when you raise a base with an exponent by an exponent.

Introduction to Exponents Page 3