Scientific Notation & Significant Digits Flashcards
1
Q
Scientific notation
A
is used to represent very big or very small numbers
a x 10 ^ n
1 <= +a < 10
2
Q
whole number Number to sci. notation
A
- Place a decimal point (.0) after the whole number
- Move the decimal point over and count up until the first digit
- The number of times it moved is the positive exponent
- 3.65x105
3
Q
decimal Number to sci. notation
A
- Take the decimal point and move it towards the first digit
- The number of times it moved is the negative exponent
- 2.07x10-5
4
Q
Sci. notation to number with positive exponenet
A
- Take the decimal point and move it right the # of times the exponent is
- 7 053 200 000
5
Q
Sci. notation to number with negetive exponenet
A
- Take the decimal point and move it left the # of times the exponent is
- 0.000005462
6
Q
significant digits
A
- Measured or calculated value
- Can’t be counted or defined number, MUST be measured
- If you can not have an instrument that measures the value it is always going to have an infinite amount of SD
- The digits that are reliably knownand not estimated
7
Q
Determining which digits are significant
A
- All leading zeros
- 0.00051200 m
- Trailing zeros if a decimal point is not present
- 7 430 000 kg
8
Q
Preserving significant digits in calculations: Multiplying or dividing
A
- Two or more measurements
- Look at the significant digits of the numbers
- The lowest significant digit is the one you use
9
Q
Preserving significant digits in calculations:Adding or subtracting
A
- Two or more measurements
- Look at the end decimal places of both the numbers
- The lowest decimal point is the one you chose
10
Q
Multi-Step Calculations
A
- Dont round anything until the end
- Underline digits that are NOT significant
- Atomic mass does not count but percent abundance does
- No scale is measure it
11
Q
examples of measured units
A
- mm
- m
- mL
- kg
- kPa
- g
- s
- m/s
NOT u
