:
- – Express large and small numbers in scientific notation.
- – Use your GDC (Graphic Display Calculator) to find numbers in scientific notation.
Consider the number:
123.4567
There are two ways to round up the number by using fewer digits:
1. In a specific number of decimal places (d.p.)
in 1 d.p. 123.5
in 2 d.p. 123.46
in 3 d.p. 123.457
2. In a specific number of significant figures (s.f.). For the position of cutting we start counting from the first non-zero digit:
in 4 s.f. 123.5in 5 s.f. 123.46
Inchangé : in 6 s.f. 123.457
But also
in 2 s.f. 120
Inchangé : in 1 s.f. 100
Important remark: In the final IB exams the requirement is to giveInchangé : the answers either in exact form or in 3 s.f.
For example:
\(2\pi\)6.28
Exact form | in 3 s.f. |
\(\sqrt{2}\) | 1.41 |
12348 | 12300 |
METHOD:
The method is the same as with decimal places except that you start counting from theInchangé : very beginning of the number (instead of just after the decimal point):
– If 5 or above then round the last number up.
– If 4 or below the last number stays the same
Examples:
a. Round 15.748 to 3 significant figures.
b. Round 64.3463 to 2 significant figures.
c. Round 128.35 to 2 significant figures.
Exercise
Find each of these values as a power of 10.
Example : 1 000 = 103
Find each of these values as a power of 10.
Example : 0.001 = 10-3
Reminder
For a positive integer n :
- \(10^{\color{red}{n}}\) is written with a 1 followed by n zeros.
- \(10^{\color{green}{-n}}\) is written with a 1 preceded by n zeros.
Exercise :
answer the question writing the letter, like this : \(s=2\)
How can we use our findings so far to express numbers as multiple of powers of ten .
For example \( 8, 000\) :
\( 8, 000 = 8 \times 1,\color{green}{000} \) and we know\( 1, \color{green}{000} = 10^{\color{green}{3}}\)
so, \( 8, \color{green}{000} = 8\times10^{\color{green}{3}}\)
what about \( 60 ,000 ,000 \) ?
\( 6\color{green}{0, 000 ,000 }= 6\times 1\color{green}{0 ,000 ,000}\)
\( 6\color{green}{0, 000, 000}= 6\times 10^{\color{green}{7}}\)
and \( 0.005 \)?
\(\color{red}{ 0.00}5=5\times \color{red}{ 0.00}1\)
\(\color{red}{ 0.00}5=5\times 10^{\color{red}{ -3}}\)
Match all these numbers with their form in \(a\times 10^{k}\) where \( k \in \mathbb{Z}\)
Exercise
Scientific Notation
Any number can written in the form :
\( a \times 10^k\) where \( 1 \leq a<10 \) and \( k\in \mathbb{Z}\)
Scientific notation is a standard way of writing very large and very small numbers so that they’re easier to both compare and use in computations.
Examples :
METHOD:
Write 427 000 000 000 in scientific notation:
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Write 0.00 000 037 in scientific notation.
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Exercise – Level 🔅
Exercise – Level 🔅🔅
Exercise – Level 🔅🔅🔅
Exercise – Level 🔅🔅🔅🔅
Most calculators use the symbol E± for the scientific notation:
1.325E79 means \(1.325\times 10^{79}\) |
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Exercise :
NOTICE :
They may ask us to give the number in scientific form but also in 3 s.f. Then :
\(1.2345×10^{2}≅1.23×10^{2}\)
\(3.2045×10^{-5}≅3.20×10^{-5}\)
..
Quizizz as a warm up or at the end of your course. This resource can be used by the students themselves by clicking on the “practice” button:
– Significant figures– Powers of 10– Scientific notation– Scientific notation-calculation |
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