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Math Basics Notes

The document provides an overview of key math basics in the SI system of units including: 1) The base SI units for length, mass, time, amount of substance, and temperature. Kelvin is used to measure temperature and has an absolute zero point of 0K. 2) Common SI prefixes like kilo, hecto, and deci that are used to modify units. 3) Concepts of density which relates length and volume, and significant figures which determines the precision of measurements and calculations. 4) How to write numbers in scientific notation and perform unit conversions using dimensional analysis.

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70 views3 pages

Math Basics Notes

The document provides an overview of key math basics in the SI system of units including: 1) The base SI units for length, mass, time, amount of substance, and temperature. Kelvin is used to measure temperature and has an absolute zero point of 0K. 2) Common SI prefixes like kilo, hecto, and deci that are used to modify units. 3) Concepts of density which relates length and volume, and significant figures which determines the precision of measurements and calculations. 4) How to write numbers in scientific notation and perform unit conversions using dimensional analysis.

Uploaded by

Jill
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Unit 1: Math Basics

The base units in the SI system are


Meters for length
Kilograms for mass
Seconds for time
Mole for amount of a substance
Kelvin for temperature

Unlike
O
F and
O
C, Kelvin (K) is not given in degrees, it is simply Kelvin. Kelvin
was selected to allow scientists to have a set 0 reference point. 0K is referred to as
absolute zero. It is nearly impossible to go below this temperature (for our purposes, it is
impossible!) To convert from
O
C to K add 273, to convert from K to
O
C, subtract 273.

If
you get confused, remember that negative Kelvin temperatures should not exist. If your
calculation gives you a negative value, youre headed in the wrong direction.

Sometimes it makes more sense to write a unit in terms of SI prefixes rather than in
scientific notation. The commonly used SI prefixes are

Prefix Symbol Meaning
Kilo k one thousand
Hecto h one hundred
Deka dk ten
Deci d one tenth
Centi c one hundredth
Milli m one thousandth

It takes 100 cm to make a meter, 1000 mm to make a meter, 1/1000 km to make a meter,
etc.

When were looking at density, we use length/volume with the appropriate units
Note: 1mL = 1 cm
3
and 1L = 1 dm
3

In any measurement, the last digit is always and estimate. Significant figures are the
numbers resulting from a measurement.

Zeros are significant when:
1) They are between non zero figures (ex. 108, 1.02, 6.09)
2) They are after a non-zero but before a written decimal point (ex. 350. 260.,
450.)
3) After non-zero and after a decimal point (ex. .160, .260)

Zeros are not significant if they act as place holders only
1) Between a decimal point and a non zero (.0045, .0073)

Note: We dont really know how many decimal points exist for numbers like 26, 000,
3,500, etc. This is why we like scientific notation.

Examples:

1) 1.05
2) 0.0073
3) 4,300
4) 1.470
5) 330.

Note: Exact quantities have an inifinite number of significant figures

Math with Significant Figures
1. Multiplication and Division the result from the multiplication and/or division
cannot contain more significant figures than any of the ones used in the
calculation.
2. Addition and Subtraction the result from the addition and/or subtraction cannot
contain more decimal places than the least precise number used in the calculation.

Examples:

(3.08) x (5.2) = 16 (2 SF)

(27.68) (14.369) = 13.31 (2 decimal places)

Scientific Notation

In scientific notation, the first factor must always be a value greater than or equal to 1 and
less than 10. The second factor must be a power of ten.

Examples:

0.0003001 = 3.001*10
-4

1,000 = 1*10
3

345,000 = 3.45*10
5

0.0359 = 3.59*10
-2


Dimensional Analysis (AKA Factor Label Method)

Conversion factors are numbers used to change one unit into another unit. When they are
used properly, all units will divide out except the desired one.




Examples:

10 dg to mg








23 hours to minutes

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