N3C9TNp15

Answer and Notes to Problem 15:

The students should find some combination of values so that the 2 factors on the left will equal , one example could be:

Students should be encouraged to defend their selection by showing how their numbers make sense or solve the problem correctly.  This is a problem that should be attacked without using a calculator or by plugging in numbers to make a correct “answer.”  Although either of those methods could be used to help students verify or check their solutions.  The relationships among the exponents are the necessary components of this particular problem and provide important use of exponential relationships that set students up for future studies.