Name:__________________ Date:__________

Exponential Growth and Decay Lab

Growth 1. Gather the data. a. Start with 2 M&Ms in the cup. b. Shake the cup and pour the M&Ms onto the paper plate. Count the number of M&Ms that have the M showing. (Be careful with the yellow M&Ms. Its hard to see the M.) c. Add two new M&Ms for each one with an M showing. Record the total number of M&Ms in the table below. (Trial #1 is the starting 2, continue with #2.) d. Repeat steps b & c, recording the new total each time, until there are 7 trials on the table. 2. Graph the data: Create a scatter plot with the trial # on the bottom (x) and the total number of M&Ms on the side (y). Trial # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Number of M&Ms

3. Answer the following questions: a. Can you figure out an algebraic formula to represent this situation? (use x to represent the number of trials and use y to represent the total number of M&Ms.)

b. Predict the number of M&Ms if you were to complete 9 trials.

Exponential Decay 4. Gather the data a. Start with a cupful of M&Ms. Shake the cup and pour the M&Ms onto the paper plate b. Count the total number of M&Ms and write that number in the table below for Trial #1. c. Remove all the M&Ms that have the M showing. Record the number of M&Ms remaining for Trial #2. Return the remaining M&Ms to the cup. Shake the cup and pour the M&Ms onto the paper plate d. Repeat step b until the table is filled in. 5. Graph the data and create a scatter plot of Trials (x) and Number (y) Trial # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Number of M&Ms

6. Answer the following questions a. Can you find the formula that represents this situation? (Use x to represent the number of trials and y to represent the total number of M&Ms)

b. Predict the number of M&Ms on Trial #8

c. Predict the trial when you would run out of M&Ms:

You may now eat your M&Ms!