ACTIVITIES 1
Mathematics - 3 ESO
What is the current world population? What is the diameter of an atom? What is the diameter of a galaxy? What is the wavelength of an x-ray? What is the current national federal debt? All these questions have answers that may involve either very large numbers or very small numbers. One way to accurately represent such numbers is with scientific notation. In this unit, we will study how to use scientific notation when answering questions such as those posed above. Working with very large and very small numbers involves knowing how to use powers. Because of that, it is compulsory to study the rules of exponents before explaining how to use scientific notation. In addition to that knowledge related to powers, we will have the opportunity in this unit to discover how the relation between powers and roots works.
. The expression
is written
Exponential notation can be used to express the product of any expression that is used repeatedly as a factor.
1.1
Pgina 1
Mathematics - 3 ESO
Examples:
( )
( (
) (
) (
) (
)
(the base is 5) and
We can extend the definition of an exponent to all the integers but we have to take into account: The properties of natural number exponents, specially: where The essential idea of being coherent
1.2
Definition of
For any nonzero rational number Note that if we want to extend the properties of natural number exponents to integers exponents, and to be mathematically coherent, then has to be equal to 1:
Pgina 2
Mathematics - 3 ESO
1.3
Definition of
If and n is a natural number, then and
This property is explained by the same reasons we have pointed out in the above section.
1.4
Quotient: Dividing terms with the same base. (Subtract the exponents on the like bases and recall )
Raising a Product to a Power Distribute that power through to each term in the product
Raising a Quotient to a Power Distribute that power over each term in the quotient
( )
Mathematics - 3 ESO
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Mathematics - 3 ESO
Pgina 5