L2-3_Algebra.

fm Page 55 Tuesday, August 19, 2003 2:49 PM

Algebra

“Power”ful Patterns
Math Concepts
• multiplication Overview
• place value
• division Students will investigate the relationship between
• whole numbers multiplication with repeated factors and the use of
• exponents exponents. Students will connect “powers of ten” to
• decimals place value positions.

Materials
• TI-15 Explorer™
• "Power"ful Patterns
recording sheets
• pencils

Introduction

1. Have students investigate a problem that requires multiplication of

a repeated factor.
Examples:
If you fold a piece of paper in half five times, how many layers
thick would it be?
If you didn’t like baby-sitting for a particular child, you might
decide to triple your hourly charge each time you baby-sit. What
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would you charge on the fourth time, if you charged $3.00 an hour
the first time?

After a certain kind of plant is planted, it produces ten seeds. If each

of these ten seeds grows into a plant with the same seed-producing
season, how many seeds will you have at the end of six seasons?

2. Have students discuss how they might use the calculator to perform
the repeated multiplication actions in the problem they choose to
investigate.
Examples:
2 V 2 V 2 V . . . Z ______

or

›V2›1›››...

3. Demonstrate using the exponent key ¨ for multiplication of a

repeated factor.
Example:
2 ¨ 4 Z 16

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Algebra

“Power”ful Patterns (continued)

Introduction (continued)

4. Have students use both ¨ and › to generate data about

the problem. Have them record the data in the tables on the
recording sheet.

Note: In exponential notation, the repeated factor is called the

“base,” and the exponent is often referred to as the “power.”
Example:
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5. Have students compare the data in the tables and discuss the
relationships between the two lists.

Collecting and Organizing Data

While students generate data for the different bases (factors) and  How are the different ways to
exponents (powers) in their problems, ask questions such as: perform repeated multiplication
on the calculator alike? How
• What factor are you using? How is it represented in your problem? are they different?
• What does the exponent represent?
 What happens if you enter 0
• Predict what the next entry in your table will be. How did you
instead of 1 as the starting
make your prediction? number for the constant
• What happens when you change the exponent? function? Why do you think
this happens?
• What happens when you change the factor (the base of
the exponent)?

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Algebra

“Power”ful Patterns (continued)

Analyzing Data and Drawing Conclusions

After students have made and compared several pairs of lists using  When would you most likely
different bases (factors), have them discuss their results as a whole want to use the regular
group. Ask questions such as: multiplication key instead of
¨ or ›? When would ¨ or
• What problem did you make up to generate your data? › be helpful?
• How are everyone’s problems alike? How are they different?
• How are the different data lists alike? How are they different?
• What kinds of relationships do you see between the two lists
of data in each chart?
• What kinds of products occurred when you used 10 as the factor
(the base)? What patterns did you see in them? Where else have you
seen that pattern?

Continuing the Investigation

Have students:

• Experiment with using negative numbers for the factor (base)

or for the exponent.
© 2003 Texas Instruments Incorporated. ™Trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated.

• Experiment with using division instead of multiplication as the

repeated operation.
• Look for relationships between the data collected in these
experiments.

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Algebra

Name:

“Power”ful Patterns
Recording Sheet

Collecting and Organizing Data

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Analyzing Data and Drawing Conclusions

What is the calculator doing when you enter: ____________ ¨ ____________ = ?

base exponent

What is the calculator doing each time you press ¨?

What pattern do you see when you use 10 as the base?

58 Uncovering Mathematics with Manipulatives, the TI-10, and the TI-15 Explorer™ Calculator