Virginia SOL 7.NS.1.d
The Standard
Compare and order no more than four numbers greater than 0 written in scientific notation. Ordering may be in ascending or descending order.*
Virginia Standards of Learning for Mathematics · The student will investigate and describe the concept of exponents for powers of ten and compare and order numbers greater than zero written in scientific notation.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students decide which positive scientific notation values are larger or smaller. They compare powers of ten first, then coefficients when the powers match.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students correctly arrange up to four values from least to greatest or greatest to least. They use exponents first, then compare coefficients when exponents match.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may compare only the coefficients and ignore the exponents. They may think a negative exponent makes the number negative. They may also reverse ascending and descending order.
How to Assess It
- Ask students to order 3.2 × 10^5, 7.1 × 10^3, 1.4 × 10^5, and 9.8 × 10^4 from least to greatest. Require one sentence explaining how the exponents helped.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs cards showing scientific notation values, then have students place them on a floor number line from least to greatest.
Ask, “Which matters first when comparing 4.5 × 10^6 and 8.2 × 10^5, the coefficient or exponent? Explain.”
Play a four-card sorting race where teams order scientific notation cards and earn a point only after giving a correct reason.
Compare scientific notation data for planet distances, cell sizes, or national populations, then rank the values and explain the order.
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Printable 7.NS.1.d Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 3.NS.2.b
Order up to three whole numbers, each 9,999 or less, represented with and without models, from least to greatest and greatest to least.
- 4.NS.2.b
Order up to four whole numbers up to seven digits each, from least to greatest or greatest to least.
- 7.NS.1.c
Convert between numbers greater than 0 written in scientific notation and decimals.*
- 2.NS.2.h
Order up to three whole numbers, each 999 or less, represented concretely, pictorially, or symbolically from least to greatest and greatest to least.
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