Math vs Science To a mathematician mathematician 73

Math vs. Science • To a mathematician: mathematician 73 = 73. 000 etc • To a scientist, scientist these numbers have a different meaning

Numbers in Science Counts are exact and have infinite number of significant figures There are 30 desks in room 267 - this means 30 = 30. 000 desks

Counting Sig Figs (used when do calculations with data)

X X source

The Atlantic and Pacific Rule (Easy way to count sig figs) Look to see if the number has a decimal point Decimal point Absent = Atlantic Ocean Decimal point Present = Pacific Ocean

Decimal point present: • Start on the Pacific (left) side of the number • Start counting with first non-zero digit and count until the end of the number 2545. 300 g has 7 sig figs 0. 004530 km has 4 sig figs

Decimal point absent: • Start on the Atlantic (right) side of the number • Start counting with first non-zero digit and count until the end of the number 5400 m 5431 m has 2 sig figs 4 sig figs

Once in a blue moon: _ 5300 cm • The middle zero is significant • The ruler was calibrated to the hundreds place • You estimated the 10’s place and it happened to land on a zero

Multiplication and Division Answer can have only as many significant figures as number with least number of sig figs

24. 56 cm X 14 cm = a) 343. 84 cm 2 b) 343. 8 cm 2 c) 343 cm 2 d) 340 cm 2

Addition and Subtraction Answer can have only as many decimal places as number with least number of decimal places

422. 63 cm 29. 472 cm +________ 115. 9 cm a) 568. 002 cm b) 568. 00 cm c) 568. 0 cm d) 568 cm