This opening assignment for an introductory quantitative reasoning course asks students to write about "Numbers We Should Know." Its goal is to help students begin to think quantitatively, evaluate the sources of quantitative information critically, and write using numbers precisely and thoughtfully.

The lesson from WyzAnt begins with a review of the definition of exponents then proceeds to several examples which show the definition in action. Special cases such as those involving negative bases as well as the zero exponent and the exponent of 1 are also discussed. An interactive resource at the end of the lesson is provided for student practice.

This site from WyzAnt explores what simplifying is, as well as how to simplify a variety of algebraic equations. Content focuses on simplifying multiple signs, combining like terms, simplifying multiplication, distributing a number or sign into parenthesis, using the FOIL method to multiply two or more parenthesis, and simplifying exponents of a number.