Scientific Notation & Unit Conversion

  • Scientific Notation: x = a × 10n

    • a is between 1 to 10

    • if x is > 10, then n ≥ 1

    • if 0 < x < 1, then n is ≤ -1

    • n = counts the number of zeros BEFORE the decimal point if positive, and the number of zeros AFTER the decimal point if negative;

      if the decimal point moves to the right, its negative. if the decimal moves to the left, its positive

      • ex; .0007 = 7 × 10-4

      • 2310 = 2.31 × 103

      • -74561 = -7.4561 × 104

      • -.003 = -3 × 10³

  • Unit Conversion: Unit A × (Unit A/Unit B​) = Unit B

    • ex; 100km/hr to miles/min

      • 100km/hr x 1mi/1.6km x 1hr/60min (cancel out units)

      • 100 × 1 mi / 1.6 × 60 min

      • = 1.0416 miles/min

    • 12 ft/sec to inch/min

      • 12 ft/sec x 12 in/1ft x 60 sec/1min (cancel out units)

      • 12 × 12 × 60 inch / 1 × 1 min

      • = 8,640 inch/min