Metric System & Scientific Notation
Metric SystemStandardized measurement system used in Science
Decimal based = conversions between units of different magnitudes are accomplished by shifting the decimal point or changing an exponent
All multiples and divisions of the decimal units are factors of the power of ten
The US is the only industrialized country that does not use this system as its official system of measurement, still using the Imperial System ?!?
Units to Know
UNIT SYMBOL WHAT IT MEASURES
meter m length
gram g mass
Liter L volume
Celsius ˚C temp
seconds s time
Scientific Notationa way of writing numbers that are too large or
too small to be conveniently written in standard decimal notation
Based on significant figuresHere are some examples:10000 = 1 x 104 24327 = 2.4327 x 104
1000 = 1 x 103 7354 = 7.354 x 103
100 = 1 x 102 482 = 4.82 x 102
10 = 1 x 101 89 = 8.9 x 101 (not usually done)
1 = 100
1/10 = 0.1 = 1 x 10-1 0.32 = 3.2 x 10-1 (not usually done)
1/100 = 0.01 = 1 x 10-2 0.053 = 5.3 x 10-2
1/1000 = 0.001 = 1 x 10-3 0.0078 = 7.8 x 10-3
1/10000 = 0.0001 = 1 x 10-4 0.00044 = 4.4 x 10-4
Scientific NotationKept some simple rules in mind.
1.Starting with numbers
Rule: Numbers greater than 1 move the decimal to the left exponent is positive
7354 = 7.354 x 103
Rule: Numbers less than 1 move the decimal to the right exponent is negative
0.0078 = 7.8 x 10-3
2. Starting with notations
Rule: Numbers greater than 1(positive exponent) move the decimal to the left
7.354 x 103 = 7354
Rule: Numbers less than 1 (negative exponent) move the decimal to the right
7.8 x 10-3 = 0.0078
Prefixes to Know
Many, many, more… the scale continues…