Education Technology

Power Company

Subject Area
Math: PreAlgebra: Number Sense and Operations
Math: Middle Grades Math: Number Sense
Math: Middle Grades Math: Algebraic Thinking
Level
6-8
Activity Time
60 Minutes
TI Calculator
TI-30 X IIS™ / TI-30Xa
Resource Types
Lessons

Power Company

Activity Overview

Students explore the limits on powers that can be displayed without scientific notation and look for patterns in the powers.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print the transparency sheet and pages 70 - 72 from the attached Student PDF file for the class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the activity procedures:

  • Find the greatest whole number exponent for the bases given on the Activity page so that the product is displayed without scientific notation
  • Understand that the exponent for 4 is the greatest whole number less than or equal to one-half of the exponent for 2, because 4 is the square of 2
  • Realize that the exponent for 25 is the greatest whole number less than or equal to one-half of the exponent for 5, because 25 is the square of 5
  • Find the square root of the greatest number that can be displayed on the calculator
  • Take its integer part to determine the greatest whole number whose square can be displayed on the calculator without using scientific notation
  • Understand that if the base is 1, the product is always 1 [irrespective of the exponent]
  • After the Activity

    Students complete the Activity pages.

  • Review student results
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary
  • Subject Area
    Math: PreAlgebra: Number Sense and Operations
    Math: Middle Grades Math: Number Sense
    Math: Middle Grades Math: Algebraic Thinking
    Level
    6-8
    Activity Time
    60 Minutes
    TI Calculator
    TI-30 X IIS™ / TI-30Xa
    Resource Types
    Lessons
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