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A Lab activity to help students discover what exponential growth and decay are. It's for pre-algebra or algebra 1. This is a modified version of a similar lab I found online (I can't remember where) so I don't take credit for the idea. Only the formatting.
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Name:__________________Date:__________
Exponential Growth and Decay LabGrowth
1. Gather the data.a. Start with 2 M&Ms in the cup.b. Shake the cup and pour the M&Ms onto the paper plate. Count the number of
M&Ms that have the M showing. (Be careful with the yellow M&Ms. It’s hard to see the M.)
c. Add two new M&Ms for each one with an M showing. Record the total number of M&Ms in the table below. (Trial #1 is the starting 2, continue with #2.)
d. Repeat steps b & c, recording the new total each time, until there are 7 trials on the table.
2. Graph the data: Create a scatter plot with the trial # on the bottom (x) and the total number of M&Ms on the side (y).
3. Answer the following questions:a. Can you figure out an algebraic
formula to represent this situation? (use x to represent the number of trials and use y to represent the total number of M&Ms.)
b. Predict the number of M&Ms if you were to complete 9 trials.
Exponential Decay
4. Gather the data
Trial # Number of M&Ms
1234567
a. Start with a cupful of M&Ms. Shake the cup and pour the M&Ms onto the paper plate
b. Count the total number of M&Ms and write that number in the table below for Trial #1.
c. Remove all the M&Ms that have the M showing. Record the number of M&Ms remaining for Trial #2. Return the remaining M&Ms to the cup. Shake the cup and pour the M&Ms onto the paper plate
d. Repeat step “b” until the table is filled in.
5. Graph the data and create a scatter plot of Trials (x) and Number (y)
6. Answer the following questionsa. Can you find the formula that represents this situation? (Use x to represent the
number of trials and y to represent the total number of M&Ms)
b. Predict the number of M&Ms on Trial #8
Trial # Number of M&Ms
1234567
c. Predict the trial when you would run out of M&Ms:
You may now eat your M&Ms!