The Scientific Method

The scientific method is a step-by-step way of solving problems.

You will see different steps, depending on where you look, but they are always similar.

Scientific Notation

2.99 x 108 m/s = 299,000,000 m/s

Express as your first number, then a decimal, then your remaining numbers. “x 10n” tells you the decimal is actually n spots to the right. If n is negative, you move the decimal that many spots to the left.

Express in scientific notation:

a. 346.46

b. .00010034

power prefix abbreviation

10-18 atto- a

10-15 femto- f

10-12 pico- p

10-9 nano- n

10-6 micro-

10-3 milli- m

10-2 centi- c

10-1 deci- d

1101

baseDeka- D, Dk or Da

102 Hecto- H

103 Kilo- K

106 Mega- M

109 Giga- G

1012 Tera- T

1015 Peta- P

1018 Exa- E

The Metric System (s.i.)

Distance: meter

Mass: kilogram

Volume: liter

Time: second

Converting Metric Units

Count the number of exponent steps you need to move. If moving up the chart, move the decimal that many spots to the right, down the chart, move the decimal to the left. Put your answer back in correct scientific notation.

Convert the following:

a. 3.34 x 105 Mg into Kg

b. 1056 cm into m

c. 4.189 x 10-4 ml into cl

d. .00002354 g into mg

Math operations with scientific notation

Adding/subtracting like exponents

2.1 x 103g + 1.0 x 103g =

Adding/subtracting unlike exponents

3.5 x 102m + 1.2 x 103m =

Adding/subtracting unlike exponents and units

2.5 x 103dl – 1.3 x 102cl =

Multiplying/dividing

(2.0 x 102m) x (3.0 x 104m) =

(2.0 x 102m) / (3.0 x 104m) =

(2.0 x 102m) x (3.0 x 104cm) =

(2.0 x 102m) x (3.0 x 104s) =

(2.0 x 102m) / (3.0 x 104s) =