Modeling Exponential Bacteria Growth on Planet Riker
This material is replicated on a number of sites
as part of the
SERC Pedagogic Service Project
Summary
In this Spreadsheets across the Curriculum module, students use an exponential relationship to determine bacteria populations in a lake on a fictional planet. Students create plots to visually examine data and experiment with different types of trend lines to determine what best characterizes the data. They also explore data transformation using the natural log function and are asked to consider concepts related to mathematical modeling.
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Learning Goals
Students will:
- Use Excel to create xy scatter plots.
- Use trendlines to determine the function that best fits the data.
- Use logarithms to transform data and explore the effects of that transformation.
- Gain experience using Excel for graphing.
- Gain experience with the concept of mathematical modeling.
- Gain experience with exponential and logarithmic functions.
- Gain experience with the overall concept of data analysis.
Context for Use
This module was designed for use in an introductory college mathematics course, but could be easily adapted for use in a high school course as well.
Description and Teaching Materials
SSAC2005.PN1992.VFG1.1 Student Version (PowerPoint bytes Aug22 07)
This module is a PowerPoint presentation with embedded spreadsheets. If the embedded spreadsheets are not visible, save the PowerPoint file to a disk and open it from there.
This PowerPoint file is the student version of the module. An instructor version is available by request. The instructor version includes the completed spreadsheet. Send your request to Len Vacher (vacher@usf.edu) by filling out and submitting the Instructor Module Request Form.
Teaching Notes and Tips
This module is designed for use as a stand-alone resource. It could be used as a lab or homework assignment, or as the basis for an interactive classroom activity.
Assessment
The last slide contains an end-of-module assignment that could used to examine student understanding and learning gains.