a class is given this question on a test about exponents: a squirrel collects 12 nuts an hour for 12 hours on 12 days. write an expression with and without exponents to find how many nuts the squirrel collected. two students provided there answers.
Student 1's answer: Without exponents:
1. Multiply the number of nuts collected per hour (12) by the number of hours per day (12) to get the number of nuts collected per day: 12 x 12 = 144.
2. Multiply the number of nuts collected per day (144) by the number of days (12) to get the total number of nuts collected: 144 x 12 = 1728.
Expression without exponents: 12 x 12 x 12 = 1728
Student 2's answer: With exponents:
1. Raise the number of nuts collected per hour (12) to the power of 3 (as there are 3 groups of 12 - hours, days, and number of nuts collected per hour).
2. 12^3 = 12 x 12 x 12 = 1728.
Expression with exponents: 12^3 = 1728.