Exponents Lesson

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Exponents Lesson

• This lesson plan is for 6th graders. It
  should take about 2-3 days to go through.
  Students will learn about exponents and how to
  add, subtract, multiply and divide exponents.
• By Terri LeGault

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Definitions

• Exponents are shorthand for multiplication. The
  exponent stands for however many times the thing
  or number is being multiplied by itself.
• The thing that is being multiplied is the base.
• The process of using exponents is called raising
  to a power where the exponent is the power.

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Definitions Cont.

• In x raised to the nth power, x is the base, and
  n is the exponent (or power).
• Positive integer powers
• x raised to the n x x x . . . x (n
  factors of x)
• A base of six raised to the second power is
  called six squared, which means six times six.

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Definitions Cont.

• Six raised to the third power is six cubed,
  which means six times six times six.
• Expanding- to expand and base and its
  exponent, example 54 to 5555.
• Simplify the opposite of expanding, to
  shorten. Example 333 to 33.

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Simple Exponent Rules

• Any number raised to the power of one equals
  itself. X1 x.
• Any number raised to the power of zero, besides
  zero, equals zero.
• x0 0.

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Exponents and Scientific Notation

• Exponents and scientific notation are closely
  related. Scientific notation involves using
  exponents with a base of 10.
• Examples of Scientific Notation
• 2 103 2,000
• 7.34 106 7,340,000
• 4.5 105 450,000
• People use scientific notation when they do not
  want to write out the whole number, if it is
  really long.

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Worksheet, Practice Test and Answers

• Simple Exponents Worksheet
• Answers for Worksheet
• Practice Test
• Answers for Practice Test

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Resources

• http//www.purplemath.com/modules/exponent.htm
• http//www.math.com/school/subject1/lessons/S1U1L8
  GL.htmlsm2
• http//www.edteach.com/algebra/radicals/real_expon
  ents.htm