Group Work

Working in small groups, students will examine data about bacteria discovered in a freshwater lake. They will:  

• examine expressions that represent measurements of different bacteria and decide whether the number is rational or irrational; 
• compare the size of bacteria measurements presented as radicals and in scientific notation; and
• perform computations with exponents.

Each student will need a copy of the Tiny Culprits worksheet.

Final Report

Individually, students will answer a series of questions about Vibrio cholerae, the species of bacteria that causes cholera. The final report questions require students to: 

• use to find the perimeter of a rod-shaped cell; 
• given cellular measurements that include determine between what two integers each measurement lies; 
• plot measurements that include  on a number line;  
• compute decimal expansions of rational numbers;
• simplify expressions with exponents; and
• use scientific notation.    

Students should NOT have access to their group worksheet as they complete the final report.