Tooltip
These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.

Modelling linear and exponential growth

This lesson develops the concept of modelling linear and exponential growth. In particular students will enhance their understanding of:

  • Translating between descriptive, algebraic, tabular, and graphical representation of the functions.
  • Recognizing how and why a quantity changes per unit interval.

This is achieved by working on simple and compound interest problems.

An initial problem involves comparing a simple interest rate of 10% with a compound interest rate of 8%. The value of a $200 investment is calculated for a 5 year period. Students then match their results with sketch graphs for each type of interest rate.

A whole class discussion looks at choosing an ‘odd one out’ between three different rates of simple interest and investment. The process is repeated for compound interest rates.

There is then a collaborative activity where cards with an amount of money and interest rate must be matched with a formula card showing how to calculate the amount of money in the account after n years.

There are pre-lesson and post-lesson formative assessment tasks. Detailed teacher notes give suggestions on questioning and how to use the resources. Full solutions are given for each of the sections.

This is a concept development lesson from the Mathematics Assessment Resource Service, a collaboration between UC Berkeley and the Shell Centre team at the University of Nottingham. Further information on the collection is given here.

 

Show health and safety information

Please be aware that resources have been published on the website in the form that they were originally supplied. This means that procedures reflect general practice and standards applicable at the time resources were produced and cannot be assumed to be acceptable today. Website users are fully responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is in accordance with current regulations related to health and safety and that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out.

Information on the permitted use of this resource is covered by the Category Three Content section in STEM Learning’s Terms and conditions.