8 t h Grade
Exponents and
Scientific Notation
Module 2
The Destination
Therefore, it is important to begin with
Standards
numerical bases when learning the
exponent rules. To generalize exponent
8.EE.A.1
Use properties to simplify expressions
with integer exponents.
8.EE.A.3
Read, write, translate, and compare
numbers in scientific notation.
8.EE.A.4
Operate with numbers in scientific
notation, with and without
technology.
rules, students can simplify variable
expressions. One use of integer exponents
is to represent very large and small
numbers. Not only do students translate
between standard and scientific notation,
but they will also compute using the four
operations. Students will apply the
Associative and Commutative Properties
while working with numbers in scientific
In this module students are formally introduced to
notation. Comparisons are made in order
integer exponents with a base other than ten. In
to determine not only which number is
the past students briefly encountered powers of
larger, but how many times larger
two and three when finding area and volume.
(multiplicative comparison).
Must-See-Attractions
Number Bonds
When adding or subtracting
To get 105, multiply 104 by 101 .
Use number bonds to rename
numbers in scientific notation,
Complete the number bond.
numbers in scientific notation.
the exponents must be the same.
Now find the sum.
Students write the existing
To accomplish this, students may
Add the multipliers and keep
decimal in scientific notation
have to rewrite numbers so that
the exponent 105 .
and then use the Associative
they are not in scientific
Property and Exponent
notation.
Properties to add the powers of
ten.
Models

Equations

Expressions
 Number bonds
Related Places to Visit
Data
Students can work with very large and small numbers in the real world, such as:
national debt, corporate finances, planetary distances, molecular masses, and computer engineering. They
can write a set of these numbers in scientific notation and calculate the measures of center and
variability.
Computer memory:
Megabyte (MB) = 106
Gigabyte (GB) = 109
Terabyte (TB) = 1012
1)
Forty 25GB Blue Ray discs is equal to 1TB. Express the number of GB in scientific notation. For
more examples: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chspace.htm
2)
Find the mean, median, mode, and range of a computer workstation:
2MB, 3.25 GB, 2.25 TB, 4.3 MB, 4.2 MB
Area and Perimeter
Wyoming and Colorado are rectangular states.
Find the area and perimeter of these states.
Which state has the larger perimeter and by
how much? Which state has the larger area?
Tell how many times larger it is.
Wyoming: From the North border to the South
Metric Measurement
Students can practice converting metric
measurements and then expressing them in
scientific notation.
4 g = _______ kg
4g = 0.004 kg
0.004 kg = 4 × 10−3 kg
SMP
border: 2.76 × 102 miles and from the East to
the West border is 3.65 miles × 102 miles.
Colorado: East to West 3.8 × 102 miles. North
to South 2.8 × 102 miles
Fractional exponents
In module 1, students learned the square and
cube root functions. The operation of the
radical can be expressed as a fractional
EXIT
PARCC
exponent.
1
√4 = √4 =42 = 2
2
1
√27 = 273 = 3
3