Activity Overview
Students investigate the relationship between multiplication with repeated factors and the use of exponents. Students will connect "powers of ten" to place value positions.
Before the Activity
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print student activity sheet page 58 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the page to the class.
Follow the activity procedures:
Investigate a problem that requires multiplication of a repeated factor
Use the calculator to perform the repeated multiplication
Examine the use of the exponent key for multiplication of a repeated factor
Record the data of repeated multiplication and multiplication using the exponent key in a table
Compare the data and discuss the relationships between the two lists
Understand the use of exponents
After the Activity
Review student results
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary