Step 7 Objective
Use index notation for integer powers and simple instances of the index laws.
- Examples of what pupils should
know and be able to do - Probing questions
- What if pupils find
this a barrier?
What if pupils find this a barrier?
- Build on what pupils already know about square numbers from Step 5.
(Recognise the squares of numbers to at least 12 × 12) - Investigate patterns in numbers raised to powers, e.g. 2
, 2
, 2
, 2
, 2
, 2
to establish that any number to the power of zero is 1. - Explore what happens with negative powers by looking at powers of ten and building on what pupils are secure in. e.g.
1000 = 10 × 10 × 10 = 10
100 = 10 × 10 = 10
10 = 10 = 10
1 = 10
0.1 = 1 ÷ 10 = 10
0.01 = 1 ÷ (10 × 10) = 10
, etc. - Practise using the x
key on a calculator.