In this Grade 6 Illustrative Mathematics lesson from Unit 6: Expressions and Equations, students learn to write and evaluate expressions with exponents, understanding that exponential notation represents repeated multiplication of the same factor. Students practice interpreting expressions such as 4³ and connecting exponential form to expanded form and standard value. This lesson builds the foundational vocabulary and skills needed to work with algebraic expressions and equations throughout the unit.
Section 1
Exponents
An exponent is a number that appears above and to the right of a particular factor. It tells us how many times that factor occurs in the expression. The factor to which the exponent applies is called the base, and the product is called a power of the base.
An exponent indicates repeated multiplication.
where is a positive integer.
Section 2
Writing Equivalent Exponential Expressions
To compare exponential expressions with different bases, you can rewrite them to have a common base. This is often done by expressing a larger base as a power of a smaller base. The power of a power rule, , is then used to simplify the expression.
Section 3
Evaluating Exponential Expressions
To evaluate an exponential expression for a given value of a variable, substitute the value for the variable and then simplify the expression using the order of operations. Remember to calculate the value of the power before performing other operations like multiplication.
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Section 1
Exponents
An exponent is a number that appears above and to the right of a particular factor. It tells us how many times that factor occurs in the expression. The factor to which the exponent applies is called the base, and the product is called a power of the base.
An exponent indicates repeated multiplication.
where is a positive integer.
Section 2
Writing Equivalent Exponential Expressions
To compare exponential expressions with different bases, you can rewrite them to have a common base. This is often done by expressing a larger base as a power of a smaller base. The power of a power rule, , is then used to simplify the expression.
Section 3
Evaluating Exponential Expressions
To evaluate an exponential expression for a given value of a variable, substitute the value for the variable and then simplify the expression using the order of operations. Remember to calculate the value of the power before performing other operations like multiplication.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter