In this Algebra Application, students examine the budding industry of commercial space travel. Using data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, students build a mathematical model from historical airfare data. This model is used to predict when commercial space travel will become affordable. This also includes a discussion of inflation-adjusted costs and the future value of money.

In this episode of Algebra Applications, students explore earthquakes using exponential models. In particular, students analyze the earthquake that struck the Sichuan Province in China in 2008, months before the Beijing Olympics.

In this introductory segment students learn about the great earthquake of 2008 that hit the Sichuan province of China. In the process they learn about how exponential functions provide a good model for describing earthquake intensity.

The basic definition of an exponential function is shown in the intensity function for an earthquake. Students analyze data and perform an exponential regression based on data from the Sichuan earthquake.

An exponential model describes the intensity of an earthquake, while a logarithmic model describes the magnitude of an earthquake. In the process students learn about the inverse of an exponential function. 

An earthquake is an example of a seismic wave. A wave can be modeled with a trigonometric function. Using the TI-Nspire, students link the amplitude to an exponential function to analyze the dramatic increase in intensity resulting from minor changes to magnitude.

In this episode of Algebra Applications, students explore various scenarios that can be explained through the use of logarithmic functions. Such disparate phenomena as hearing loss and tsunamis can be explained through logarithmic models.

The mathematical definition of a logarithm is the inverse of an exponential function, but why do we need to use logarithms? This segment explains the nature of some data sets, where incremental changes in the domain result in explosive changes in the range. As a result, logarithms allow for the a way to present and analyze what would otherwise be unwieldy data.

We live in a noisy world. In fact, prolonged exposure to noise can cause hearing loss. Students analyze the noise level at a rock concert and determine the ideal distance where the noise level is out of the harmful range. Using the TI-Nspire’s Geometry tools, student create a mathematical simulation of the decibel level as a function of distance.

In 1998 a devastating tsunami was triggered by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of New Guinea. The amount of energy from this earthquake was equivalent to a thermonuclear explosion. Students analyze the energy outputs for different magnitude earthquakes. Using the Graphing tools, students explore the use of a logarithmic scale to better analyze exponential data.

Almost everyone has an intuitive understanding that exponential growth means rapid growth. Written and hosted by internationally acclaimed math educator Dr. Monica Neagoy, this video builds on students’ intuitive notions, explores exponential notation, and analyzes properties of exponential function graphs, with the help of TI-Nspire features such as sliders and graph transformations.

In this Investigation we explore the properties of exponents and exponential graphs.

This video is Segment 1 of a 4 segment series related to Exponents and Exponential Functions. Segments 1 and 2 are grouped together. To access Exponents and Exponential Functions, Segment 2, click the following link:

In this Math Lab students compare the graphs of quadratics and exponential graph of base 2.

This video is Segment 1 of a 4 segment series related to Exponents and Exponential Functions. Segments 1 and 2 are grouped together. To access Exponents and Exponential Functions, Segment 1, click the following link:

In this Investigation we look at exponential growth and decay models.

This video is Segment 3 of a 4 segment series related to Exponents and Exponential Functions. Segments 3 and 4 are grouped together. To access Exponents and Exponential Functions, Segment 4, click the following link:

In this Math Lab we look at cooling curves.

This video is Segment 4 of a 4 segment series related to Exponents and Exponential Functions. Segments 3 and 4 are grouped together. To access Exponents and Exponential Functions, Segment 3, click the following link:

This video begins with the historical invention of logarithms that forever changed the world of computation—until the advent of calculators more than 300 years later. Written and hosted by internationally acclaimed math educator Dr.

In this Investigation we look at properties of logarithms.

This video is Segment 1 of a 4 segment series related to Algebra Nspirations: Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions. Segments 1 and 2 are grouped together. To access Algebra Nspirations: Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions, Segment 2, click the following link:

In this Math Lab we look at patterns among different logarithm calculations.

This video is Segment 2 of a 4 segment series related to Algebra Nspirations: Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions. Segments 1 and 2 are grouped together. To access Algebra Nspirations: Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions, Segment 1, click the following link:

In this Investigation we look at logarithmic functions and graphs.

This video is Segment 3 of a 4 segment series related to Algebra Nspirations: Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions. Segments 3 and 4 are grouped together. To access Algebra Nspirations: Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions, Segment 4, click the following link:

In this Math Lab we look at an application of logarithms involving astronomy.

This video is Segment 4 of a 4 segment series related to Algebra Nspirations: Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions. Segments 3 and 4 are grouped together. To access Algebra Nspirations: Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions, Segment 3, click the following link: