Everything You Wanted to Everything You Wanted to Know About Numbers but Know About Numbers but

Were Afraid to Ask: A Were Afraid to Ask: A Webquest onWebquest on

Number BasesNumber Bases

What is a number base?What is a number base?

IntroductionIntroduction

• Most of us are familiar with base 10; that is Most of us are familiar with base 10; that is what we use as our number system in what we use as our number system in America and Western Europe. However, there America and Western Europe. However, there are other bases that are used for many are other bases that are used for many purposes. Your task will be to:purposes. Your task will be to:

• investigate and explain 3 different bases investigate and explain 3 different bases other than 10 and other than 10 and

• explain and show how to translate a different explain and show how to translate a different base numbers to base 10 and from base 10 base numbers to base 10 and from base 10 to 3 other bases using any method of to 3 other bases using any method of presentation available.presentation available.

Base WebquestBase WebquestTaskTask

You and a group of 3 others will share your You and a group of 3 others will share your information with the class through a: information with the class through a:

• visual explanation (hands on such as beans, visual explanation (hands on such as beans, candy, buttons or other manipulativescandy, buttons or other manipulatives

• Create a worksheet for students to help them Create a worksheet for students to help them understand different bases and their usesunderstand different bases and their uses

• Discuss and provide examples of how Discuss and provide examples of how different bases are used in present times or different bases are used in present times or have been used in the past.have been used in the past.

Webquest on number basesWebquest on number bases

Process:Process:• Your group of 4 will use the websites on the next Your group of 4 will use the websites on the next

slides to find out the information that you need to slides to find out the information that you need to know in order to:know in order to:

• Determine the different bases we use in our Determine the different bases we use in our everyday liveseveryday lives

• How to change a base 10 number to another base How to change a base 10 number to another base and vice versaand vice versa

• Connect what you learned about place value in Connect what you learned about place value in different bases to base 10different bases to base 10

If you are ready to go check out the research pages If you are ready to go check out the research pages to help you accomplish your goal.to help you accomplish your goal.

Base Number WebquestBase Number Webquest

Use these websites to help you Use these websites to help you investigate different bases.investigate different bases.

http://www.psinvention.com/zoetic/bashttp://www.psinvention.com/zoetic/basenumb.htmenumb.htmhttp://score.kings.k12.ca.us/lessons/ch.http://score.kings.k12.ca.us/lessons/ch.colors/base.htmcolors/base.htmhttp://www.asknumbers.com/BaseNumhttp://www.asknumbers.com/BaseNumberConversion.aspxberConversion.aspx

Websites ContinuedWebsites Continued

• http://www.learner.org/channel/courshttp://www.learner.org/channel/courses/learningmath/number/session3/paes/learningmath/number/session3/part_a/index.htmlrt_a/index.html

• http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Babylonian_num~history/HistTopics/Babylonian_numerals.htmlerals.html

Webquest ResourcesWebquest ResourcesStudent work page:Student work page:

• What is a base number? How is it What is a base number? How is it written?written?

• What are some bases that we use in What are some bases that we use in our every day life? Find a website that our every day life? Find a website that explains how these are used.explains how these are used.

• How do you change the base 10 How do you change the base 10 number 17 into base 4? Draw a number 17 into base 4? Draw a picture to prove you are correct.picture to prove you are correct.

• What are the place values in base 4?What are the place values in base 4?

Webquest ResourcesWebquest Resources

• How do you change the number 1233 How do you change the number 1233 base 4 to a base 10 number? Explain base 4 to a base 10 number? Explain using place value charts and a drawing.using place value charts and a drawing.

• What is so special about binary numbers?What is so special about binary numbers?

• List 3 things you have learned about place List 3 things you have learned about place value in different bases that helps you value in different bases that helps you understand place value in base 10.understand place value in base 10.

Webquest RubricWebquest Rubric

As you are preparing for your final As you are preparing for your final presentation to the class please make sure presentation to the class please make sure you have included these pieces of you have included these pieces of information:information:

We have responded to all the questions in We have responded to all the questions in the task and on the student worksheet…the task and on the student worksheet…

Content: 1 2 3 4 5Content: 1 2 3 4 5We have demonstrated how to change We have demonstrated how to change

numbers in base 10 to 3 other bases using numbers in base 10 to 3 other bases using manipulatives and pictures:manipulatives and pictures:

Visual: 1 2 3 4 5Visual: 1 2 3 4 5

Webquest Rubric cont.Webquest Rubric cont.

We have created a student worksheet that We have created a student worksheet that demonstrates how different base numbers are demonstrates how different base numbers are used presently as well as in the past and it is used presently as well as in the past and it is helpful for students to practice changing from helpful for students to practice changing from base 10 to other bases and vice versa and it base 10 to other bases and vice versa and it contains places for students to draw pictures or contains places for students to draw pictures or place value charts:place value charts:

Symbolic representations: 1 2 3 4 5Symbolic representations: 1 2 3 4 5Each person in the group is well versed in Each person in the group is well versed in

understanding base numbers and how each bases understanding base numbers and how each bases place value relates to base 10place value relates to base 10

Articulation: 1 2 3 4 5Articulation: 1 2 3 4 5

Webquest Base NumbersWebquest Base Numbers

This webquest project and This webquest project and presentation is worth 20 points but presentation is worth 20 points but hopefully it is an invaluable asset in hopefully it is an invaluable asset in developing critical thinking skills and developing critical thinking skills and higher order thinking skills. This is a higher order thinking skills. This is a great way to begin our school year!great way to begin our school year!