As you can see above, this is an example of cell mitosis. Cells are reproduced in this manner. If you start with one cell, you will have two cells when it is finished with mitosis.
So, this is known as a doubling effect. Another way to look at this is that cells are squaring themselves. A square number is any number that is multiplied to itself. Here are a few examples:
So, this is known as a doubling effect. Another way to look at this is that cells are squaring themselves. A square number is any number that is multiplied to itself. Here are a few examples:
There are many reasons why square numbers have that name, not the least which they form squares. :)
Now, let's look at what actually happens with mitosis. See if you can find out how many cells there are based on the number of cells you begin with.
If I start with: I can show it this way: I end up with:
1 cell 1 * 2
2 cells 2 * 2
4 cells (2 * 2) * 2
8 cells (2 * 2 * 2) * 2
16 cells (2 * 2 * 2 * 2) * 2
32 cells (2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2) * 2
Do you see the pattern? What are you multiplying by with each mitosis cycle?
Another activity is plotting the number of cells on a graph. If the number of starting cells is your x-coordinate and the number of cells after one mitosis cycle is your y-coordinate, then you can plot the points on an xy-graph.
Now, let's look at what actually happens with mitosis. See if you can find out how many cells there are based on the number of cells you begin with.
If I start with: I can show it this way: I end up with:
1 cell 1 * 2
2 cells 2 * 2
4 cells (2 * 2) * 2
8 cells (2 * 2 * 2) * 2
16 cells (2 * 2 * 2 * 2) * 2
32 cells (2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2) * 2
Do you see the pattern? What are you multiplying by with each mitosis cycle?
Another activity is plotting the number of cells on a graph. If the number of starting cells is your x-coordinate and the number of cells after one mitosis cycle is your y-coordinate, then you can plot the points on an xy-graph.
Now you see on the left that when you start to plot the points, it will create a line if you connect the points.
If you have questions, ask your teacher. Great job!
If you have questions, ask your teacher. Great job!
Teacher Corner: The two activities above are directly related to the 5G-2 and 5NBT-7. Both illustrate how cell mitosis can be tied to math activities. The first activity can be extended by showing pattern development through repeated multiplication. The second activity can be extended to begin understanding slope and writing equations of lines. It can also be used to show patterns on the graph.