Illustrative Mathematics Grade 8, Unit 7, Lesson 11: Representing Small Numbers on the Number Line

Related Pages
Illustrative Math
Grade 8

Lesson 11: Representing Small Numbers on the Number Line

Let’s visualize small numbers on the number line using powers of 10.

Illustrative Math Unit 8.7, Lesson 11 (printable worksheets)

Lesson 11 Summary

The width of a bacterium cell is about 2 · 10^-6 meters.
If we want to plot this on a number line, we need to find which two powers of 10 it lies between. We can see that 2 · 10^-6 is a multiple of 10^-6. So our number line will be labeled with multiples of 10^-6.



Note that the right side is labeled 10 · 10^-6 = 10^-5

The power of ten on the right side of the number line is always greater than the power on the left. This is true for positive or negative powers of ten.

Lesson 11.1 Small Numbers on a Number Line

Kiran drew this number line.
Andre said, “That doesn’t look right to me.”
Explain why Kiran is correct or explain how he can fix the number line.

• See Video for Whole Lesson

Lesson 11.2 Comparing Small Numbers on a Number Line

1. Label the tick marks on the number line.
2. Plot the following numbers on the number line:
3. Which is larger, 29 · 10^-7 or 6 · 10^-6? Estimate how many times larger.
4. Which is larger, 7 · 10^-8 or 3 · 10^-9? Estimate how many times larger..

Lesson 11.3 Atomic Scale

1. The radius of an electron is about 0.0000000000003 cm. Write this number as a multiple of a power of 10.
   a. Decide what power of 10 to put on the right side of this number line and label it.
   b. Label each tick mark as a multiple of a power of 10.
   c. Plot the radius of the electron in centimeters on the number line.
2. The mass of a proton is about 0.0000000000000000000000017 grams. Write this number as a multiple of a power of 10.
   a. Decide what power of 10 to put on the right side of this number line and label it.
   b. Label each tick mark as a multiple of a power of 10.
   c. Plot the mass of the proton in grams on the number line.
3. Point A on the zoomed-in number line describes the wavelength of a certain X-ray in meters.
   a. Write the wavelength of the X-ray as a multiple of a power of 10.
   b. Write the wavelength of the X-ray as a decimal.

Lesson 11 Practice Problems

1. Select all the expressions that are equal to 4 · 10^-3
2. Write each expression as a multiple of a power of 10:
   a. 0.04
   b. 0.072
   c. 0.0000325
   d. Three thousandths
   e. 23 hundredths
   f. 729 thousandths
   g. 41 millionths
3. A family sets out on a road trip to visit their cousins. They travel at a steady rate. The graph shows the distance remaining to their cousins' house for each hour of the trip.
   a. How fast are they traveling?
   b. Is the slope positive or negative? Explain how you know and why that fits the situation.
   c. How far is the trip and how long did it take? Explain how you know.

The Open Up Resources math curriculum is free to download from the Open Up Resources website and is also available from Illustrative Mathematics.

Try the free Mathway calculator and problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.

We welcome your feedback, comments and questions about this site or page. Please submit your feedback or enquiries via our Feedback page.