Big Ideas:
Whole numbers can be written in many ways as products of various factors.
The properties of real numbers (commutative, associative, and distributive) can be used to rewrite expressions in ways that simplify or shed light on an expression.
This lesson builds on students' work with the Product of Powers and Quotient of Powers properties. For this task, students will pair cards with equivalent exponential expressions. Some of the cards may have more than one match, and some may have no match at all. Students will reason about the value of an exponential expression with a negative power by using the quotient of powers property to identify equivalent pairs. Students will partner up to share their matches and discuss any differences. The mathematical concepts in this lesson build toward students work with rational expressions as well as logarithmic and exponential functions.
Vocabulary: integers, exponents, powers, bases, equivalent
Special Materials:
Cards of exponential expressions found in the "Supplemental Resources" section or you can create your own.
Lesson plan