Establishing a Connection Between Growth Factors and Percent Increase

Summary:

Students are relatively well-versed in recognizing exponential growth patterns of change. They are beginning to cement their understanding of finding a growth factor by setting up a ratio.
For instance, consider the following sequence:
100, 180, 325, 580 Whenever you set up a ratio or fraction with one value divided by its immediate preceeding value, you find a quotient of approximately 1.8; 180/100, 325/180, 580/325 all will give 1.8
It also happens that the percent difference between any two consecutive values is 80%. For example, 80% of the original 100 is 80 and 100 + 80 = 180.
Therefore, we say that there is an association between a growth factor of 1.8 and a percent increase of 80% because they will both essentially predict the next value in the sequence.

Home Nugget #5
Assigned on Tuesday January 9, 2007
Due on Wednesday January 10, 2007
In the textbook Growing, Growing, Growing
Pages 39 and 40 problems 5, 6, 7, 8

FCAs:
3 points: explanations and evidence of thinking for all problems
1 points: 1 random question checked for accuracy