Unit  #3:  Exponents  &  Scientific  Notation  

 
  Unit  Focus  
                             
Our  third  unit  of  the  school  year  will  focus  on  a  variety  of  properties  of  
 
  integer  exponents.    We  will  learn  how  to  simplify  exponential  expressions  
  that  require  multiplication  and  division,  in  addition  to  raising  exponents  to  
  powers  and  evaluating  expressions  with  negative  exponents.    We  will  then  
  use  these  exponent  properties  to  work  with  numbers  written  in  scientific  
  notation.    Scientific  notation  gives  us  a  way  to  write  very  large  and  very  small  
 
numbers  more  efficiently  by  expressing  them  as  a  number  between  one  and  
 
  ten  multiplied  by  a  power  of  ten.    We  will  also  learn  how  to  perform  
  operations  with  numbers  written  in  scientific  notation.    
   
  Approximate  Unit  Timeframe  
  November  30  –  December  23  
 
 
 
 
 
“Tools  of  the  Trade”  
  Unit  Vocabulary    
    We  will  use  the  following  tools  
  Scientific  Notation   throughout  this  unit:  
  Order  of  Magnitude  
  Exponent  
  Exponential  Notation  
  Base  
  Power  
  Integer  
  Whole  Number  
  Expanded  Form  
  Equivalent  Fractions  
  Square  of  a  Number  
  Cube  of  a  Number  
 
 
 
  
 
  Standards  of  Mathematical  Practice  
   
  It  is  important  for  your  child  to  remember  that  they  are  indeed,  a  mathematician.    The  
 
Standards   of  Mathematical  Practice  are  habits  of  mind  for  mathematicians.    They  describe  
 
ways   in  which  your  child  should  engage  with  mathematical  subject  matter  as  they  grow  in  
  mathematical  maturity  and  expertise.  
   
  1. Make  Sense  of  Problems  &  Persevere  in  Solving  Them  
  2. Reason  Abstractly  &  Quantitatively  
  3. Construct  Viable  Arguments  &  Critique  the  Reasoning  of  Others  
  4. Model  with  Mathematics  
  5. Use  Appropriate  Tools  Strategically  
  6. Attend  to  Precision  
  7. Look  For  &  Make  Use  of  Structure  
  8. Look  For  &  Express  Regularity  in  Repeated  Reasoning  
 
 
 
 
 
  Unit  Goals  
   
 
Following   are  statements  that  I  will  use  with  your  child  to  gauge  their  progress  throughout  
  our  unit  on  Exponents  and  Scientific  Notation:  
   
ü   I  can  use  the  properties  of  integer  exponents  to  simplify  expressions.  
ü   I  can  write  an  estimation  of  a  large  quantity  by  expressing  it  as  the  product  of  a  single-­‐
  digit  number  and  a  positive  power  of  ten.  
ü   I  can  write  an  estimation  of  a  very  small  quantity  by  expressing  it  as  the  product  of  a  
  single-­‐digit  number  and  a  negative  power  of  ten.  
ü   I  can  compare  quantities  written  as  the  product  of  a  single-­‐digit  number  and  a  power  of  
  ten.  
ü   I  can  solve  operations  with  two  numbers  expressed  in  scientific  notation,  including  
  problems  that  include  both  decimals  and  scientific  notation.  
ü   I  can  use  scientific  notation  and  choose  units  of  appropriate  size  for  very  large  or  very  
  small  measurements.  
ü   I  can  interpret  scientific  notation  that  has  been  generated  by  technology.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Parent  Portal  
 
 
Check  your  child’s  academic  progress  at  https://st-­‐mb.mhric.org/marlboro/      
 
 
  
 
  Sample  Unit  Tasks  
   
  Following  are  a  multiple  choice  and  open-­‐ended  question  that  represent  the  level  of  
  rigor  that  will  be  expected  of  your  child  throughout  this  unit.  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Parent/Teacher  Connection  
   
 
In  addition  to  your  child’s  math  teacher’s  website,  and  web  resources  like  LearnZillion  and  
 
Khan  Academy,   there  are  other  resources  you  can  use  to  become  better  informed  about  
  what  your  child  is  learning  in  their  math  class:  
   
  National  PTA  Guide  to  Student  Success  
  http://www.pta.org/files/8th%20Grade%20June20.pdf    
   
  Council  of  the  Great  City  Schools  Parent  Roadmaps  to  the  Common  Core  Standards  
 
http://www.cgcs.org/cms/lib/DC00001581/Centricity/Domain/36/ParentGuide_Math_8.pdf