M&M's and Exponential Graphs

Author

Nickie Clark

Alignment

Standards Alignment

Textbook Alignment

Subject Area

Math: Precalculus: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Level

9-12

Activity Time

2 Days

TI Calculator

TI-83 Plus Family

TI-84 Plus

TI-84 Plus Silver Edition

Other Materials

M&M's (2lbs for 30 students)
Cups
Lab sheet

Resource Types

Lessons

Report an Issue

M&M's and Exponential Graphs

Activity Overview

Students will use M&M's to model a decay equation - exponential equations.

Before the Activity

Students should have access to either the TI-83 Plus or TI-84 Plus family of calculators.

During the Activity

Give each group of students a small amount (about 50) M&M's in a cup. Students will fill in the lab sheet. Students will login to TI-Navigator™ and put the data in L1 and L2.
The teacher will collect the list from the student's calculators and compile the list to make a class set of data. The class data is sent back to the students using the Navigator system and students finish the lab sheet. The teacher plots the data in activity center and students should submit the equation of best fit. The class will be able to see each groups equation appear on the data set.

After the Activity

Review student answers:

As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging

Re-teach concepts as necessary

Download Files

Download All Files (ZIP)

During the Activity Files

mANDm lab.doc

Author

Nickie Clark

Alignment

Standards Alignment

Textbook Alignment

Subject Area

Math: Precalculus: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Level

9-12

Activity Time

2 Days

TI Calculator

TI-83 Plus Family

TI-84 Plus

TI-84 Plus Silver Edition

Other Materials

M&M's (2lbs for 30 students)
Cups
Lab sheet

Resource Types

Lessons

Report an Issue

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M&M's and Exponential Graphs

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