Hot Peppers: Making an Exponent Ruler

Description

This is an activity that introduces the concept of logarithms by having students construct their own "exponent rulers." Heat values of chile peppers are used as a motivating example. Follow-up questions ask the student to analyze the ruler's properties, making observations that eventually lead to properties of logarithms. The optional sequel lesson "Hot Tamale" introduces 2-dimensional graphing on semi-logarithmic "exponent paper."

Student directions and questions

• 2002-03 original Lesson Study version
  • "Hot Peppers": Making an Exponent Ruler
  • "Hot Tamale": Graphing on Exponent Paper
          warning: large file, about 2MB
• 2003-04 version for Advanced Mathematics classes
  • "Hot Peppers": Making an Exponent Ruler
  • Day after "Hot Peppers" notes and homework (not same as "Hot Tamale")
  • Graphing on semi-log paper (some of the old "Hot Tamale" material plus a new application example)
          warning: large file, about 2MB
• 2003-04 version for Algebra 2 classes
  • "Hot Peppers": Making an Exponent Ruler (same activity but very different set of follow-up questions)