1. From Introductory Chemistry
REVIEW OF
MATH SKILLS
From Introductory Chemistry

2. MEASUREMENTS Rounding Off Numbers
Rule 1. When the first digit after those you want to retain is 4 or less, that digit and all other to its right are dropped. The last digit retained is not changed. The following examples are rounded off to four digits:
≡ ≡ 1.006
Rule 2. When the first digit after those you want to retain is 5 or greater, that digit and all others to the right are dropped and the last digit retained is increased by one. These examples are rounded off to four digits:
≡ ≡ 18.03
≡ 12.90

3. What are significant figures?
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4. MEASUREMENTS Significant Figures
1. All nonzero numbers are significant figures.
2. Zero’s follow the rules below.
Zero’s between numbers are significant.
30.09 has 4 SF
Zero’s that precede are NOT significant.
has 2 SF
Zero’s at the end of decimals are significant.
has 3 SF
Zero’s at the end without decimals are either.
4050 has either 4 SF or 3 SF

5. MEASUREMENTS Significant Figures & Calculations
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Adding & Subtracting
1587
- 120
1467
All Answers are Incorrect!!!
358.35
1470 or 1.47 x 103
Multiplication & Division
(12.034)(3.98) =
47.9 is correct
÷ 43 =
2.3 is correct
(13.59)(6.3) = 12
7.1 is correct

6. MEASUREMENTS Scientific Notation
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Many measurements in science involve either very large numbers or very small numbers (#). Scientific notation is one method for communicating these types of numbers with minimal writing.
GENERIC FORMAT: # . # #… x 10#
A negative exponent represents a number less than 1 and a positive exponent represents a number greater than 1.
6.75 x 10-3 is the same as
6.75 x 103 is the same as 6750

7. MEASUREMENTS Scientific Notation
Give the following in scientific notation (or write it out) with the appropriate significant figures. = = =
x 10-7 =
x 104 =
x 1011
3.400 x 10-12
2.3 x 10-1
98000

8. MEASUREMENTS Putting it all together:
Length (variable in a math equation = L )
Þ symbol for units: cm stands for centimeter, mm is millimeters, mm is micrometer, & nm is nanometer.
Mass (variable “m”)
Þ symbol for units: cg stands for centigram, mg is milligram, mg is microgram, & ng is nanogram.
Volume (variable “V”)
Þ symbol for units: cL stands for centiliter, mL is milliliter, mL is microliter, & nL is nanoliter.
Note: One Liter is defined to be exactly 1000 cm3
1 mL = L = 1 cm3

9. Dimensional Analysis Numerator Denominator 1. Do I want that unit?
Dimensional Analysis (also call unit analysis) is one method for solving math problems that involve measurements. The basic concept is to use the units associated with the measurement when determining the next step necessary to solve the problem. Always start with the given measurement then immediately follow the measurement with a set of parentheses.
Keep in mind, try to ask yourself the following questions in order to help yourself determine what to do next.
1. Do I want that unit?
If not, get rid of it by dividing by it if the unit is in the numerator, (if the unit is in the denominator, then multiply).
2. What do I want?
Place the unit of interest in the opposite position in the parentheses.
Numerator
Denominator

10. LECTURE PROBLEMS on Dimensional Analysis
1. Calculate the number of weeks in 672 hours.
2. How many miles will a car travel in 3.00 hours at an average speed of 62.0 miles per hour?

11. LECTURE PROBLEM
1. An instructor gives a sample of powered metal to each of four students (W, X, Y, & Z), and they weigh the samples on different balances. Their results for three trials are as follows. The true value is x 10-2 lbs.
A) Calculate the average mass for each data set with the correct significant figures.
B) Which student was the most accurate in weighing?
C) Which student was the most precise?
D) Which student had the best combination for accuracy and precision?
Student
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average W
8.72 g g
8.6 g X
8.50 g
8.48 g
8.511 g Y
8.56 g g
8.830 g Z g
8.720 g
8.550 g

12. WORKSHOP on SIMPLE MEASUREMENT CONVERSIONS
How many meters are in 2608 centimeters?
How many milliliters are in 2.96 liters?
How many kilograms are equal to grams?

13. STUDY PROBLEMS
A study of gemstones and dimensional analysis: The basic unit for gemstones is the carat. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams.
The Star of India sapphire (Al2O3, corundum) weighs x 105 mg. What is the weight of the gemstone in carats?
The Cullinan Diamond was cut into nine major stones and 96 smaller brilliants. The total weight of the cut stones was 1063 carats, only 35.0% of the original weight! What weight (in milligrams) of the Cullinan Diamond was not turned into gemstones?
D.J. promised to bake 200 dozen cookies and deliver them to a bake sale. If each cookie weighs 3.5 ounces, how many grams will 200 dozen cookies weigh? 1 oz. is the same as g.
4. One box of envelopes contains 500 envelopes. A case of envelopes contains 28 boxes of envelopes and cost $ What is the cost, in cents, of an envelope?