Wednesday, August 26, 2009

8-26-09

Scientific Notation - in Scientific Notation numbers are written in the form M X 10^n, where the factor M is a number greater than or equal to 1, but less than 10; and ^n is a whole number.
Ex.
0.00012 mm = 1.2 X 10^-4; NOTE, if you move the decimal point to the left it is a positive exponent, if you move the decimal point to the right it is a negative exponent.

"Rules"
1. Determine M by moving the decimal point in the original number to the left or right so that only 1 nonzero digit remains to the left of the decimal point.
2. Determine ^n by counting the number of places that you moved the decimal point; (either to the left or the right.)

Mathematical uses.

1. Addition and Subtraction- operations can be performed only if values have the same exponent.
Ex.
4.2 X 10^4 kg + 7.9 X 10^3 kg = 4.99 X 10^ kg, however it is rounded to 5.0 X 10^4 kg.!
you could also solve this problem by switching to 10^3, however it would cause more work..

2. Multiplication and Division- M factors are multiplied or divided, then the exponents are added together.
Ex.
(5.23 X 10^6 um)(7.1 X 10^-2 um)
= (5.23 X 7.1)(10^6 = 10^-2)
= 37.133 X 10^4 um^2
= 3.7 X 10^5 um^2. <----- final answer!

NOTE, ALL SIGNIFICANT FIGURES' PROPERTIES APPLY TO ADDITION, SUBTRACTION, MULTIPLICATION, AND DIVISION OF SCIENTIFIC NOTATION!
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17 comments:

  1. Matt OriansAugust 26, 2009 at 11:22 AM

    This webstie helps with scientfic notation and significant firgures and also with other skills learned in this chapter.

    http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/fyp/mathrev/mr-sigfg.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. Chris MathewsAugust 26, 2009 at 11:55 AM

    This website is helpful if you need some problems to work or practice quizzes (links are at the bottom)

    http://www.fordhamprep.org/gcurran/sho/sho/lessons/lesson25.htm

    ReplyDelete
  3. Griff MoranAugust 26, 2009 at 12:27 PM

    This site is helpful for adding and subtracting scientific notations:

    http://www.sparknotes.com/math/algebra1/scientificnotation/section1.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 26, 2009 at 1:04 PM

    This site has a lot of stuff on how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide scientific notations. It also has sample problems.

    http://www.edinformatics.com/math_science/scinot.htm

    ReplyDelete
  5. RyanAugust 26, 2009 at 1:34 PM

    This website helps to understand addition and subtraction with significant figures by placing them into columns.

    http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sciences/Chemistry/Miscellenous/Helpfile/Units/AdditionSubtraction.htm

    ReplyDelete
  6. Matt FarrellAugust 26, 2009 at 1:48 PM

    This website explains how to put a number into scientific notation on a calculator so you can easily add, subtract, multiply, and divide two or more numbers.

    http://www.ehow.com/how_4667397_enter-scientific-notation-ti-calculator.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. Will LongAugust 26, 2009 at 2:04 PM

    This website explains how to use scientific notation and significant figures when reading measurements.

    http://dev.physicslab.org/Document.aspx?doctype=3&filename=IntroductoryMathematics_SignificantFigures.xml

    ReplyDelete
  8. Patrick BloseAugust 26, 2009 at 2:26 PM

    This site explains adding and subtracting scientific notation in a summary form. Also includes a couple examples

    http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/adding-scientific-notation.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jacob PoseyAugust 26, 2009 at 2:31 PM

    Another website to help with scientific notation and significant figures
    http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/fyp/mathrev/mr-sigfg.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. Alex BlandAugust 26, 2009 at 2:34 PM

    This site explains converting numbers to scientific notation and using a calculator to do so.
    http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/fyp/mathrev/mr-scnot.html

    ReplyDelete
  11. (The) David RayAugust 26, 2009 at 2:46 PM

    This is a good website to learn how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in scientific notation form.

    http://chemistry.about.com/od/convertcalculate/a/scientificnote.htm

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jim AlrutzAugust 26, 2009 at 3:35 PM

    http://lasp.colorado.edu/~bagenal/MATH/math1.html

    http://lasp.colorado.edu/~bagenal/MATH/problems/problems1.html

    First link is a rundown on scientific notation. Second link goes straight to the sample problems.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Evan HarknettAugust 26, 2009 at 5:26 PM

    This website explains scientific notation if you need extra help. http://www.nyu.edu/pages/mathmol/textbook/scinot.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. Peter WetzelAugust 26, 2009 at 5:30 PM

    This site gives problems and examples of adding and subtracting numbers in scientific notation.

    www2.austincc.edu/jheath/Math/Scinot/scinot.htm

    ReplyDelete
  15. Glennjamin AdesojiAugust 26, 2009 at 5:57 PM

    This website gives sample problems on how to use scientific notation and using significant figure.

    http://chemistryandphysics.astate.edu/draganjac/Sigfig2.html

    ReplyDelete
  16. Andrew ParmenterAugust 26, 2009 at 7:10 PM

    This site provides understanding and examples on how to properly use scientific notation.

    http://www.nyu.edu/pages/mathmol/textbook/scinot.html

    ReplyDelete
  17. Kyle McCafferyAugust 26, 2009 at 7:48 PM

    http://ostermiller.org/calc/significant_figures.html

    Above is the link to a significant figure calculator. I think it would help with a number that’s really long.

    http://a-s.clayton.edu/cclower/CHEM1211/Additional%20Problems,%20etc/CH01/Conversion%20Factors%20Worksheet.doc

    This is a worksheet on conversion factors, but it requires you to write your answer in significant figures.

    ReplyDelete

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