Name: ________________________
Due date: _________
CP Algebra 2: Chapter 8 Activity (36 pts.)
Background: The Reading Eagle newspaper is having a contest to find the best mathematical
comic strip among high school students in Berks County. The one that is chosen will be featured
in the weekend newspaper and the student will be awarded a $1,000 prize.
Task: Your task is to create a comic strip that involves exponential growth or exponential decay.
You must have the formula in the comic strip, as well as one real world example to go along with
that formula. Your comic strip must have at least five slides in color. On a separate sheet of
paper, in one paragraph of at least five sentences, you must convince the employees of the
Reading Eagle why they should pick your comic strip over everyone else’s.
Audience: Ms. Cyran, employees of the Reading Eagle, and readers of the Reading Eagle
Purpose: The purpose of your comic strip is to show mathematically how one of these formulas
relates to real life. Another purpose is to show off how you can solve the formula based on the
given information.
Procedure:
1. Choose a character or characters you would like to have in your comic strip.
2. Create an outline of each of your slides, with the dialogue and math that will be in
each. (All steps to solve your formula must be listed.)
3. Draw, either by hand or on the computer, your slides and add in the dialogue and
math.
4. Color all slides using any medium of your choosing.
5. Write your paragraph explaining why your comic strip is the best to convince the
judges to give you the $1,000 prize.
Name: ________________________
Due date: _________
In order to hand in your project to be graded, you must have the following completed:
____ At least 5 slides in your comic strip
____ At least 5 sentences in your paragraph
____ Turn in this rubric with your final comic strip
Criteria:
3
2
Correct formula is used,
based on scenario
Correct formula is used, based
on scenario
Opposite formula is used,
based on scenario
1
Formula is not an
exponential growth or
decay formula
All numbers (a, r, t) are in
correct place in formula
All 3 numbers are in correct
places
2 numbers are in correct
places
1 number is in correct place
All numbers (a, r, t) are in
correct form in formula
All 3 numbers are correct
Order of operations is
followed, leading to correct
answer
All steps in order of operations
are followed correctly and final
answer is correct
2 numbers are correct
1 step in order of
operations is not followed
correctly or the final
answer is incorrect
GPA scale to grade:
12 = 100% x 36 pts. = 36 pts.
11 = 95% x 36 pts. = 34 pts.
10 = 90% x 36 pts. = 32 pts.
9 = 85% x 36 pts. = 31 pts.
8 = 80% x 36 pts. = 29 pts.
7 = 78% x 36 pts. = 28 pts.
6 = 75% x 36 pts. = 27 pts.
5 = 70% x 36 pts. = 25 pts.
4 = 65% x 36 pts. = 23 pts.
3 = 60% x 36 pts. = 22 pts.
2 = 45% x 36 pts. = 16 pts.
1 = 40% x 36 pts. = 14 pts.
1 number is correct
2 or more steps in order of
operations is not followed
correctly
Name: ________________________
Due date: _________
Helpful hints:
When a quantity increases or decreases by a fixed percent at regular intervals, then you have an
exponential growth or decay problem.
Exponential growth functions look like 𝑦 = 𝑎(1 + 𝑟)𝑡
Exponential decay functions look like 𝑦 = 𝑎(1 − 𝑟)𝑡
Sample idea: (You may not use this same idea for your comic strip.)
In 1985, there were 285 cell phone subscribers in the small town of Centerville. The number of
subscribers increased by 75% per year after 1985. How many cell phone subscribers were in
Centerville in 1990?
𝑦 = 𝑎(1 + 𝑟)𝑡
𝑦 = 285(1 − .75)5
What could your comic strip scenario be?