Summary
Students explore exponential functions by investigating exponential decay.
Essential Question(s)
How is exponential decay applicable to the real world?
Snapshot
Engage
Students quickly simulate an exponential decay function and discuss its properties.
Explore
Students investigate exponential decay using Newton's Law of Cooling.
Explain
Students share their results from the investigation.
Extend
Students research other uses of exponential decay.
Evaluate
Students present their findings and their solution to the Coffee Conundrum.
Materials
Six-sided dice (one for each person)
Coffee Conundrum Handout (attached
Writing utensils
Classroom display for a computer of some kind
Access to a graphing utility (Excel, GoogleSheets, etc.)
Engage
Display for the students the question: If each of us rolled a six-sided die and had to sit out when we rolled a one, how many people would still be standing after five rounds? Allow students time to guess and justify their answers.
Conduct the experiment. Provide all but one student with a six-sided die. The student without one will record for the class. Then have everyone stand up. Everyone rolls their die, and if they roll a one, they sit down. The recorder should record how many people are still standing after each round. Take note of how many people are still standing after five rounds but continue until fewer than three students are standing.
While the recorder inputs the data into the graphing utility, ask the rest of the class for predictions. What will the graph look like?
After the data is inserted, note the shape of the graph. Compare it to what you have seen previously with exponential functions. Fit a line to the data and note its equation.
The most well known application of exponential decay is probably the decay of radioactive elements, but we are going to investigate a more familiar concept today.
Explore
Split students into groups of two or three. Provide each group with the "Coffee Conundrum Handout." Allow students time to work through the problem, providing assistance for students who struggle but not guiding them outright. Some good questions to ask might be:
What do you think you need to do to solve the problem?
Does your group agree?
What have you tried so far?
How did you get that?
What is the goal of this question?
Explain
Students should be prepared to explain why they chose the mug they did in the handout. This explanation could be in any (reasonable) format. Allow each group to present their solution, and then ask the class to vote for one mug, based on these arguments.
Extend
Using the Internet, student groups will research further applications of exponential decay and present their findings.
Evaluate
Student presentations for the Coffee Conundrum could be used as an evaluation. Additionally, students may reflect on their new understanding of exponential functions using the strategy, I Used to Think . . . But Now I Know.
Resources
I Used to Think . . . But Now I Know Instructional Strategy. K20 Center. (n.d.). Copyright 2015, Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma. Retrieved from https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/d9908066f654727934df7bf4f50639f2