The number system - the language of mathematics!
Here is a quick review of the number system…remember the analogy from class starting with the KIDS (Natural, Whole, Integers, Decimals) and they all come from the MOM (Rational Numbers) and of course we can’t forget about GRANDMA (Real Numbers), and finally MOM’S SISTER (Irrational Numbers).
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES (DIGITS): Significant Figures are simply the number of figures that “contribute” to the value of the number. There is a really easy way to remember how to calculate the # (number) of sig figs (significant figures): *** Starting on the left, find the first NON-ZERO number and then count that number plus any additional numbers to the right, zeros included!!! |
Think back to our class, remember the delicious strawberry cheesecake?!! Check out the example below.
(my guess) the Weight of Cheesecake: 250.85 grams Is this 100% correct? Or could there be some uncertainty in my guess? Uncertainty: Not sure something is 100% correct; If your measuring (in Science Class) and want to explain your uncertainty in detail, you can also use: Standard Deviation (you will learn about this in Science class) 1) The cheesecake’s weight will have uncertainty of +/- (plus or minus) 0.01 grams The uncertainty's decimal place should match the measurement's decimal place Example measurement: 0.0004 then uncertainty is +/- 0.0001 (same decimal place) 2) measurement = best estimate ± uncertainty |