LEARNING TARGET: STUDENTS WILL UNDERSTAND AND USE SIGNIFICANT FIGURES AND SCIENTIFIC NOTATION IN PROBLEM SOLVING.
Scientific Notation and Significant Figures
Scientific Notation BasicsAny value expressed in scientific notation, whether large or small, has two parts. The first part consists of a number greater than or equal to 1 but less than 10. It may have any number of digits after the decimal point. The second part consists of a power of 10.
6.02 x 10^23 Scientific Notation Rules1. Figure out which zeros are NOT significant 2. ALWAYS has ONE DIGIT then decimal 3. If you are making the given # is bigger the exponent is negative. 4. If you are making the given # smaller the exponent is positive. 5. Always look for sig figs. Math and Scientific NotationAdding and Subtracting Sci Not
3.24 x 10^8 + 1.50 x 10^5 Multiplying Sci Not
4.78 x 10^52 x 8.23 x 10^48 Dividing Sci Not
9.22 x 10^28 / 5.24 x 10^17 |
Significant Figure BasicsIn science we NEVER round to the nearest.....digit!!! We use significant figures. Significant figures are just what the term implies; figures or numbers that are significant! For each problem that you do, your answer will have a different number of digits depending on the numbers in the question. Read the rules below to help you understand.
Significant Figures Rules1. Non-Zero #’s are ALWAYS significant
2. Zeros between non-zero are ALWAYS significant 3. All final zeros to the right of the decimal are significant if there is a # in front. 4. Zeros that act as placeholders are NOT significant 5. Counting #’s and defined constants have an infinite # of sig figs. Math and Significant FiguresAdding and Subtracting Sig Figs
25.1 g + 2.03 g = 27.1 g Multiplying and Dividing Sig Figs
102.568 x 16.1 = 1.65 x 10^-3 |