Thinking About Exponents

Posted on 8/2/2016 by Scott Adamson
Viewed 26 times
The idea of negative exponents and zero as an exponent is a problem that persists with students into a college calculus class. What is, for example, 2-4 and why? This activity is designed to help students to make sense of exponents from a real-world context.  By the way, I plan to follow this up with an extension including rational exponents like 21/2.
Standards
8.EE.A.1 6.EE.A.1
Math Practices
MP.1 MP.2 MP.3 MP.4 MP.6 MP.7 MP.8
Grades
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