Math lesson plan Ā· 11th grade (Year 12 in England) Ā· 30 minutes
Evaluate logarithms without a calculator
Algebra
CCSS HSF.BF.B.5CCSS HSF.LE.A.4England: A-level Pure Mathematics
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Evaluate logarithms without a calculator.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Logarithms
Leads to: Combine logarithms into a single logarithm; Evaluate logarithms with the change-of-base formula
Materials: Balance scales or a balance drawing, Algebra tiles, Function machine cards, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up Ā· 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Logarithms). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Evaluate log_2(2). ā 1Prompt: Ask: 2 to what power gives 2?
- Priya is revising the product law of logarithms. Which statement is true? (log(a/b) = log a Ć· log b / log(a + b) = log a + log b / log(ab) = log a Ć log b / log(ab) = log a + log b) ā log(ab) = log a + log bPrompt: Logs turn multiplication into addition.
- Evaluate log_2(4) + log_2(4). ā 4Prompt: Use log a + log b = log(ab).
Hook Ā· 3 min
- Show a "think of a number" puzzle and ask the class to work out the starting number.
- Share the objective: Evaluate logarithms without a calculator. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it Ā· 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Evaluate logā 32.
- Step 1: 32 = 2^5
- Step 2: logā 32 = 5
- Answer: 5
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice Ā· 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Evaluate logā 81. ā 4Prompt: logā N asks: 3 to what power gives N?
- Evaluate logā (1/27). ā -3Prompt: A fraction 1/bāæ is b to a negative power.
You do: independent practice Ā· 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket Ā· 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Evaluate logā 243. ā 5Prompt: logā N asks: 3 to what power gives N?
- Evaluate logā (1/16). ā -4Prompt: A fraction 1/bāæ is b to a negative power.
Watch out for
- Doing an operation to one side of an equation but not the other.
- Reading 3x as 3 + x, or thinking x always stands for one particular number.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Logarithms.
- Use concrete materials: balance scales or a balance drawing.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Combine logarithms into a single logarithm; Evaluate logarithms with the change-of-base formula.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-11.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder