CLOUD 9 SCIENCE
  • Chemistry
    • Trimester 3 >
      • Chemistry - Week 27
      • Chemistry - Week 26
      • Chemistry - Week 25
      • Chemistry - Week 24
      • Chemistry - Week 23
      • Chemistry - Week 22
      • Chemistry - Week 21
    • Trimester 2 >
      • Chemistry - Week 20
      • Chemistry - Week 18
      • Chemistry - Week 17
      • Chemistry - Week 16
      • Chemistry - Week 15
      • Chemistry - Week 14
      • Chemistry - Week 13
      • Chemistry - Week 12
      • Chemistry - Week 11
    • Trimester 1 >
      • Chemistry - Week 10
      • Chemistry - Week 9
      • Chemistry - Week 8
      • Chemistry - Week 7
      • Chemistry - Week 6
      • Chemistry - Week 5
      • Chemistry - Week 4
      • Chemistry - Week 3
      • Chemistry - Week 2
      • Chemistry - Week 1
    • Course Overview
  • APA Reporting
  • Integrated Math
    • Module 1 - Arithmetic Review
    • Module 2 - Know Your Calculator
    • Module 3 - Scientific Notation
    • Module 4 - Significant Figures
    • Module 5 - Units of Measurement
    • Module 6 - Basic Algebra

Module 2 - Know Your Calculator

Go ahead... introduce yourselves! Shake hands, finger-to-button!
"Calculator... me, me... calculator."

Too many times, whenever I've asked students if they know how to use their scientific calculators, they look at me appalled that I would ask something so ridiculous. Yet, when the time comes to assess their ability to use their calculators, well... I am appalled!

Certainly when it comes to simpler calculations, nearly all students demonstrate wonderful competency, but when asked to perform tricky calculations that involve parentheses, exponents, square root, or logarithmic functions in the numerator and denominator, their confidence belies them.

As an example, solve the below problem:
     (6.02 x 10^23) (8.65 x 10^4)

It would not be too difficult, using the parenthesis and exponent functions of your calculator to obtain the answer:
     (6.02 x 10^23) (8.65 x 10^4) = 5.21 x 10^28

Yet, what if you were asked to solve this?
     (6.02 x 10^23) (8.65 x 10^4) / (4.19 x 10^-9)

It is not enough to simply know how to use exponent and parentheses functions, but you also need to know that once you multiply the items in the numerator, they need to be totaled or equaled before pressing the division key and using the parenthesis and exponent functions in the denominator.

The key strokes would go as follows:
     (6.02 x 10^23) "times" (8.65 x 10^4) "equals"
     then "divided by" (4.19 x 10^-9) "equals" 

Hopefully in carrying out these key strokes you ended up with 1.24 x 10^37

If this was not the answer you obtained, please practice this problem until you get this!

When it comes to carrying out calculations involving logarithms and square roots, they can pose similar challenges.

Check-off List of Things to Do:

  1. Read this entire webpage
  2. Watch the video linked right, watch it in its entirety!
  3. Complete Practice Set 1 - Scientific Notation
  4. Check answers against the Answer Key 1
  5. Complete Practice Set 2 - Square Roots
  6. Check answers against the Answer Key 2
  7. Complete Practice Set 3 - Logarithms
  8. Check answers against the Answer Key 3
  9. Take Module 1 Quiz

Module 2 Resources

Picture


Practice Set 1 - Scientific Notation
Practice Set 1 - Answer Key

Practice Set 2 - Square Roots

Practice Set 3 - Logarithms
Practice Set 3 - Answer Key

Module 2 Quiz
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  • Chemistry
    • Trimester 3 >
      • Chemistry - Week 27
      • Chemistry - Week 26
      • Chemistry - Week 25
      • Chemistry - Week 24
      • Chemistry - Week 23
      • Chemistry - Week 22
      • Chemistry - Week 21
    • Trimester 2 >
      • Chemistry - Week 20
      • Chemistry - Week 18
      • Chemistry - Week 17
      • Chemistry - Week 16
      • Chemistry - Week 15
      • Chemistry - Week 14
      • Chemistry - Week 13
      • Chemistry - Week 12
      • Chemistry - Week 11
    • Trimester 1 >
      • Chemistry - Week 10
      • Chemistry - Week 9
      • Chemistry - Week 8
      • Chemistry - Week 7
      • Chemistry - Week 6
      • Chemistry - Week 5
      • Chemistry - Week 4
      • Chemistry - Week 3
      • Chemistry - Week 2
      • Chemistry - Week 1
    • Course Overview
  • APA Reporting
  • Integrated Math
    • Module 1 - Arithmetic Review
    • Module 2 - Know Your Calculator
    • Module 3 - Scientific Notation
    • Module 4 - Significant Figures
    • Module 5 - Units of Measurement
    • Module 6 - Basic Algebra