Unit Title: Exponents and Exponential Functions Grade Levels: 9th

Subject/Topic Areas: Algebra I

Key Words: Exponent, Exponential Function, Exponential Growth, Exponential Decay, Growth
Factor, Decay Factor

Designed by: Catherine Steinke

Brief Summary of Unit (including curricular context and unit goals)

Students will explain how the definition of the meaning of rational exponents follows from
extending the properties of integer exponents to those values, allowing for a notation for radicals
in terms of rational exponents [N.RN.1]. Students will also be able to graph exponential
functions and understand exponential behaviors [F.IF.8.b].

Stage 1: Identify Desired Results

Established goals:

Students will be able to simplify expressions involving exponents in order to solve exponential
functions.

Students will analyze and graph exponential growth and decay and compare them.

Students will be able to relate exponential functions to real world examples.

What understandings are desired?

Students will understand:

How to represent numbers less than 1 using exponents

How to simplify expressions involving exponents
The characteristics of exponential functions
The importance of exponential functions to the real world
What essential questions will be considered?

1. How can you simplify a zero or negative exponent?

2. How do you multiply powers with the same base?
3. How do you raise a power to a power? What about raising a product to a power?
4. How do you divide powers with the same base? What about raising a quotient to a
power?
5. What is an exponential function and how do you graph it?
6. What is exponential growth? What about exponential decay? How do the graphs
of each differ?

What key knowledge and skills will students acquire as a result of this unit?

Students will know... Students will be able to...

How to simplify zero and Understand exponential

negative exponents functions
How to multiply powers with the Solve exponential functions
same base Graph exponential functions
The multiplication properties of Compare exponential growth
exponents and decay
The division properties of Explain how exponential
exponents functions can explain things in
science

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Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence

What evidence will show that students understand?

Students will work with in pairs on How to Survive a Zombie Attack which models
exponential growth of the zombie virus. Students will be creating an exponential formula,
a table, graph, and answering questions to go along with the attack.
Students will discuss the best choice if they were given the option of more zombies but a
slower growth rate, or fewer zombies but a faster growth rate.
Students will then be given the cure to zombieism and create a new formula measuring
the exponential decay of the zombie virus. Students will conclude how long, if ever, it
will take for all of the humans to be cured.
Each group will come up with their ideal zombie apocalypse and present it to the class,
using explanations of exponential growth and decay.

Other evidence (quizzes, tests, prompts, observations, dialogues, work samples):

Two quizzes over simplifying exponents and exponential functions

Students will be given problems out of the book to solve
Students will be tested over the whole unit at the end

Student self-assessment and reflection:

Students will turn in exit tickets that include questions they may still have from the
days lesson
Students will be given feedback on their practice the next day as we go over
answers and explain problems still not understood

Stage 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

Consider the WHERETO elements.

Warm up activity reviewing previous knowledge on evaluating expressions H

Pre-test over new material H

Introduce zero and negative exponents E1

Practice simplifying expressions using zero and negative exponents out of the E2
textbook, starting off working alone and then in partners

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Introduce multiplying powers with the same base E1

Practice rewriting and simplifying expressions by multiplying powers with the E2

same base out of the textbook, starting off working alone and then in partners

Introduce the multiplication properties of exponents E1

Practice simplifying multiplication and exponential expressions out of the E2

textbook, starting off working alone and then in partners

Introduce division properties of exponents E1

Practice simplifying division properties of exponents out of the textbook, starting E2

off working alone and then in partners

Worksheet reviewing all concepts so far E2

Quiz over concepts so far E2

Introduce exponential functions E1

Practice evaluating exponential functions out of the textbook, starting off E2

working alone and then in partners

Introduce real world examples that use exponential functions, such as interest O
rates and carbon dating.

Introduce exponential growth and decay as types of exponential functions R

Practice evaluating real world examples of exponential growth and decay W

problems out of the textbook, starting off working alone and then in partners

Introduce the zombie apocalypse! W

Students will be divided into groups of two to create, make a table for, and graph T
the zombie virus exponential function

Each group will be paired with another to discuss the choice of more zombies but T
a slower growth rate, or fewer zombies but a faster growth rate

In their original groups, students will then be given the cure to zombieism and T
create a new formula measuring the exponential decay of the zombie virus.
Students will conclude how long, if ever, it will take for humankind to be cured.

Each group will pair back up with their other group of two to come up with their T
ideal zombie apocalypse.

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Groups will present their ideal apocalypse to the class, using explanations of T
exponential growth and decay.

Unit test over all material covered E2

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