MATHEMATICS LESSON PLAN
GRADE 9
TERM 1: JANUARY – MARCH
PROVINCE:
DISTRICT:
SCHOOL:
TEACHER’S NAME:
DATE:
DURATION:
1 Hour
1. TOPIC: EXPONENTS: Calculations using numbers in exponential form (Lesson 4)
2. CONCEPTS & SKILLS TO BE ACHIEVED:
By the end of the lesson, learners should know and be able to perform calculations
involving all four operations using numbers in exponential form
Grade 9 Lesson Plan: 1+4 Intervention – Term 1
EXPONENTS: Calculations using numbers in exponential form (Lesson 4)
(Draft)
Textbooks, DBE Workbook 1, Sasol-Inzalo Book 1
3. RESOURCES:
4. PRIOR KNOWLEDGE:


general laws of exponents
basic operations on integers
5. REVIEW AND CORRECTION OF HOMEWORK (suggested time: 10 minutes)
Homework provides an opportunity for teachers to track learners’ progress in the mastery of
mathematics concepts and to identify the problematic areas which require immediate attention.
Therefore, it is recommended that you place more focus on addressing errors from learner responses
that may later become misconceptions.
6. INTRODUCTION (Suggested time: 10 Minutes)
Check whether the learners understand the meaning of the general laws of exponents:

𝑎𝑚 × 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛

𝑎𝑚 ÷ 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛 , 𝑖𝑓 𝑚 > 𝑛

(𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚𝑛

(𝑎 × 𝑡)𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛 × 𝑡 𝑛

𝑎0 = 1

𝑎−𝑚 = 𝑎𝑚
1
7. LESSON PRESENTATION/DEVELOPMENT (Suggested time: 20 minutes)
Teaching activities


Divide learners into small groups
Ask them to do the following examples to demonstrate how
exponential laws should be applied when simplifying problems
involving all four operations:
Learning activities
(Learners are expected to:)
 respond to questions
asked during lesson
presentation.
Grade 9 Lesson Plan: 1+4 Intervention – Term 1
EXPONENTS: Calculations using numbers in exponential form (Lesson 4)
(Draft)
Page 2 of 5

indicate with reasons, the
exponential law to be
applied in order to solve
the given problems.
[Add exponents, apply 𝑎𝑚 × 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛) ]

[Apply (𝑎 × 𝑡)𝑚 = 𝑎𝑚 𝑡 𝑛 and 𝑎0 = 1]
[Add exponents, apply 𝑎𝑚 × 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛) ]

[Multiply exponents, apply (𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚𝑛
and then remove brackets]
[Add like terms]
do example 1 (b) and 1(f)
in groups and discuss the
solutions with the whole
class.
indicate with reasons, the
exponential law to be
applied in order to solve
the given problems.

Example 1
Simplify the following:
(a) 2𝑎3 𝑏 × 3𝑎2 𝑏 5 × 4𝑎𝑏 4
= 24𝑎6 𝑏10
(b) 𝑚3 × (−𝑚)6 × 𝑚0
= 𝑚3 × 𝑚6
× 1
9
=𝑚
(c) 4(𝑎2 )3 + 3(𝑎3 )2
= 4𝑎6 + 3𝑎6
= 7𝑎6
1
2
(d) 2−1 + 3−1 = +
3
2
=6+6
1
3
[Apply 𝑎−𝑚 =
1
]
𝑎𝑚
do example 1 (b) and 1(f)
in groups and discuss the
solutions with the whole
class.
[Use equivalent fractions]
5
=6
1
(e) ( 3)−1
= (3−1 )−1
=3
(f)
=
92
32
[Add numerators]
1
[Apply 𝑎−𝑚 = 𝑎𝑚 backwards]
[Multiply the exponents, apply (𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 =
𝑎𝑚𝑛
− 90
(32 )2
−1
32
34
= 32 − 1
= 32 −1
(Rewrite 9 as 32 and then apply 𝑎0 = 1)
(Multiply the exponents, apply [(𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 =
𝑎𝑚𝑛 ]
=9−1
[Subtract the exponents, apply 𝑎𝑚 ÷
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛 ]
=8
[Write 32 as a whole number]
Grade 9 Lesson Plan: 1+4 Intervention – Term 1
EXPONENTS: Calculations using numbers in exponential form (Lesson 4)
(Draft)
Page 3 of 5
Example 2
Simplify the following:
a) 125𝑥 3 ÷ 25𝑥 5 =
125𝑥 3
25𝑥 5
[Subtract exponents, apply 𝑎𝑚 ÷
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛 ]
53 𝑥 3
52 𝑥 5
or

do example 2 (b) and (c)
in groups

discuss their solutions
with the whole class.
= 5𝑥 3−5
1
[apply 𝑎−𝑚 = 𝑎𝑚]
= 5𝑥 −2
5
= 𝑥2
(b) (3𝑎𝑏)2 ÷ 3𝑎𝑏 =
or
[Apply (𝑎 × 𝑡)𝑚 = 𝑎𝑚 𝑡 𝑚 ]
9𝑎 2 𝑏2
3𝑎𝑏
32 𝑎 2 𝑏 2
3𝑎𝑏
[Subtract exponents, apply 𝑎𝑚 ÷
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛 ]
= 3𝑎𝑏
[Write 25 in exponential form]
(c) 25𝑥 . 5𝑥+1 = (52 )𝑥 . 5𝑥+1
2𝑥
= 5 .5
=5
(d)
8𝑛 ×2𝑛+1
4𝑛
=
=
=
𝑥+1
3𝑥+1
(23 )𝑛 ×2𝑛+1
(22 )𝑛
23𝑛 ×2𝑛+1
24𝑛
24𝑛+1
24𝑛
[Multiply exponents, apply
(𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚𝑛 ]
[add exponents, apply 𝑎𝑚 × 𝑎𝑛 =
𝑎𝑚+𝑛 ]
[Write 8 and 4 in exponential
form]
[Multiply exponents, apply
(𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚𝑛 ]
[add exponents, apply 𝑎𝑚 × 𝑎𝑛 =
𝑎𝑚+𝑛 on the numerator]
=2
[subtract exponents, apply 𝑎𝑚 ÷
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛 ]
Grade 9 Lesson Plan: 1+4 Intervention – Term 1
EXPONENTS: Calculations using numbers in exponential form (Lesson 4)
(Draft)
Page 4 of 5
8. CLASSWORK (Suggested time: 15 minutes)
Sasol-Inzalo Book 1 page 79 no. 6 (d) & (e)
DBE Workbook 1page 66 - 67
9. CONSOLIDATION/CONCLUSION & HOMEWORK (Suggested time: 5 minutes)
a) Emphasise that:
 Learners should master the general laws of exponents in order to use them appropriately
when solving problems involving numbers in exponential form.
b) The primary purpose of Homework is to give each learner an opportunity to demonstrate
mastery of mathematics skills taught in class. Therefore Homework should be purposeful and
the principle of ‘Less is more’ is recommended, i.e. give learners few high quality activities that
address variety of skills than many activities that do not enhance learners’ conceptual
understanding. Carefully select appropriate activities from the Sasol-Inzalo Book 1, DBE
workbook 1 and/or textbooks for learners’ homework. The selected activities should address
different cognitive levels.
Homework
Sasol-Inzalo Book 1 page 163 No 6 (c) (e) (f) (g)
Grade 9 Lesson Plan: 1+4 Intervention – Term 1
EXPONENTS: Calculations using numbers in exponential form (Lesson 4)
(Draft)
Page 5 of 5