Develop Stage 1 of your Unit Plan using the template below:

Grade 9: Exponents and Exponential Functions

Up to this point in the course, scholars have worked with linear functions almost exclusively and have
focused on situations that displayed a constant rate of change. In this unit, we introduce and focus on the
other major type of repeated change – repeated multiplicative change (also understood as repeated
percentage change). With exponential functions we can model situations such as population growth and
interest accrual and find points of interest in those situations, which is the whole goal of the Algebra I
curriculum.

The unit starts with exploring the basics of exponent rules and dimensional analysis before moving on to
simulating exponential scenarios and creating exponential functions to model those scenarios. We will
model both growth and decay and compare and contrast these scenarios. We will also compare and
contrast the characteristics of exponential functions with those of linear functions and solve systems that
involve one function of each type.

STAGE 1- STANDARDS/GOALS
What should students understand, know, and be able to do? Stage one identifies the desired results of the unit including the
related state content standards and expected performances, enduring understandings, essential questions, knowledge and skills.

Content Standard(s)

Generalizations about what students should know and be able to do.

Content Standards Primary Expected Performances

A-SSE.3C: Use the properties of exponents Translate percentages into decimals, to effectively
to transform expressions for exponential use the growth/decay formula.
functions. For example the expression 1.15t can be
rewritten as (1.151/12)12t ≈ 1.01212t to reveal the
approximate equivalent monthly interest rate if the
annual rate is 15%.

F-LE.1C: Recognize situations in which a Given real world problems pertaining to situations in
quantity grows or decays by a constant which they would know about, they are required to
percent rate per unit interval relative to determine whether a situation is growing or decaying
another
 F-LE.1: Distinguish between situations that Given different graphs, students will distinguish
can be modeled with linear functions and with wether situations are linear or exponential.
exponential functions.
Enduring Understandings Essential Questions
Insights learned from exploring generalizations via the
essential questions (Students will understand THAT…)
K-12 enduring understandings are those understandings
that should be developed over time, they are not expected to Inquiry used to explore generalizations
be mastered over one unit or one year.

Overarching Enduring Understandings:  How can you manipulate expressions

 How exponential functions are applied
to the real world
 There are multiple models to represent a
given real world relationship.
Unit Specific Enduring Understanding
 How to multiply/divide exponential
terms that have the same base and
different exponents.
involving exponents and why are those
manipulations permitted?
 Why do negative and zero exponents have
the effect they do?
 How can we use dimensional analysis for unit
conversion?
 How do we model data that changes by a
consistent factor instead of a constant slope?

 How to work with negative and zero  Compare and contrast exponential growth
exponents. and exponential decay. What situations
would model each?
 How to use the power to a power rule.
 Compare and contrast exponential and linear
 How to use dimensional analysis to functions. What situations would model
convert units. each?
 The definition and generic form of an
exponential function and what types of
situations require one.
 How to work with exponential growth
and decay in function form, context,
graphically, and in table form.
 The similarities and differences of
exponential and linear functions.
 How to find an average rate of change.
 How to graph and solve a system of linear
and exponential functions.

Knowledge and Skills

What students are expected to know and be able to do

Knowledge
The students will know…
1. Laws of exponents
2. Exponential change is repeated percentage change
3. Form of generic exponential function
4. Differences between exponential and linear functions

Skills
The students will be able to…
1. Simplify/expand exponential expressions
2. Convert units using dimensional analysis
3. Model exponential growth and decay given a situation
4. Interpret parameters of an exponential function in context
5. Graph exponential functions and write equations from graphs
6. Determine if a situation would be modeled by a linear or exponential function
7. Find an average rate of change.
8. Solve systems of linear and exponential functions graphically