This module will provide students with a foundation for understanding exponential growth, especially as contrasted with linear growth. Many skills are included because they provide opportunities for students to increase their understanding of exponential growth. For example, the geometric average is introduced, not so much because it is a vital skill to know, but because it provides another opportunity to show how exponential growth really is different than linear growth.
Students learn to contrast exponential thinking with linear thinking.
By examining data sets, graphs, words, and symbols students compare and contrast linear and exponential growth. Lesson 3 Doubling Students have a strong common sense and intuition about doubling and halving. The intuitive ideas of doubling and halving are formalized. Lesson 4 Doubling Variations Students will extend the doubling formula to allow for different time periods and work with the properties of exponents. This lesson deals exclusively with the symbolic form.