Basic Mathematical Operations

and Units of Measurement

Chapter 1
Some basic Mathematical Operations
Exponents
Operation Example
a3= a x a x a m3= m x m x m
a-3= m-3=

= = = =
a0 = 1 20 = 1
aman= am+n m2 x m4= m2+4 = m6

(am)n= amn= (a3)2= a6 (102)3= 106

(ax)n= anxn (10 cm)2= 102 cm2
= am-n = m5-3 = m2

=1 =1
 Some basic Mathematical Operations
Exponential notation
• Numbers used in chemistry and the other disciplines in science are
often either very large or very small.
• For example the diameter of a red blood cell is 0.0000075 m and
there is on average 4600000000000 red blood cells in one liter of
blood.
• A convenient method to express such numbers is by using
exponential notation or scientific notation

N x 10x
• Where N is the number between 1 and 10 and x is the exponent.

Examples:
0.0000075 can be written as 7.5 x 10-6
4600000000000 can be written as 4.6 x 1012
 Some basic Mathematical Operations
Exponential notation
Some general rules for scientific notation:
Large number:
• place one nonzero digit to the left of the decimal
• Count the number of places that the decimal was shifted to the left- this
gives the value of the exponent
Small number:
• place one nonzero digit to the left of the decimal
• Count the number of places that the decimal was shifted to the right- this
gives the value of the exponent

N x 10x
Examples:
0.0000075 can be written as 7.5 x 10-6
4600000000000 can be written as 4.6 x 1012
 Problems
Write the following numbers in scientific notation:
i) 203.45
ii) 175
iii) 0.0000456

Write the following numbers in standard notation:

i) 2.01 x 1012
ii) 4.35 x 10-5
iii) 1.54 x 100
 Problems
Write the following numbers in scientific notation:
i) 203.45 2.0345 x 102
ii) 175 1.75 x 102
iii) 0.0000456 4.56 x 10-5

Write the following numbers in standard notation:

i) 2.01 x 1012 2010000000000
ii) 4.35 x 10-5 0.0000435
iii) 1.54 x 100 1.54
 Some basic Mathematical Operations
Exponential notation
Using exponentials in calculations:
Addition and Subtraction
• In order to add or subtract numbers that are written in exponential
notation, the powers of 10 must be the same
Example:
• (5.22 x 104) + (3 x 102) = (522 x 102) + (3 x 102)= 525 x 102= 5.25 x 104
Multiplication and Division
• When the numbers expressed in exponential notation are multiplied,
the exponents are added; when they are divided the exponents are
subtracted
Example:
• (5.4 x 102)(2.1 x 103) = (5.4)(2.1) x 102+3 = 11.34 x 105 = 1.134 x 106
• 6 x 105 ÷ 2 x 102 = x 105-2 = 3 x 103
 Some basic Mathematical Operations
Exponential notation
Using exponentials in calculations:
Powers and Roots
• When raised to a power, the exponents are multiplied by the power
and when roots are taken the exponents are divided by the root
Example:
• (1.5 x 104)3 = (1.5)3 x 104x3 = 3.4 x 1012
• (1.5 x 1 )= x 106/3 = 1.1 x 102
 Problems
Write the following numbers in scientific notation:
i) (3.56 x 103) + (4.65 x 104)
ii) (1.23 x 104) ÷ (7.45 x 10-2)

iv) (2.34 x 1012)4

 Problems
Write the following numbers in scientific notation:
i) (3.56 x 103) + (4.65 x 104) = (3.56 x 103) + (46.5 x 103) =
= (3.56 + 46.5) x 103 = 50.06 x 103 = 5.006 x 104
i) (1.23 x 104) ÷ (7.45 x 10-2) = x 104+2 = 1.65 x 105
= x 1012/4 = 1.57987 x 103
iii) (2.34 x 1012)4 = (2.34)4 x 1012x4 = 29.98219 x 1048 = 2.99 x 1049
 Significant figures
• Imagine measuring the temperature using a thermometer

• You can easily see that the temperature is between 30 and 32 °C.
• We might estimate that the temperature is 31 °C but we are unsure
of the second digit in our measurement.
 Significant figures
• All digits of a measured quantity, including the first uncertain digit,
are called significant figures.
• The greater the number of significant figures, the greater the
certainty of the measurement.
• In our example from the previous slide, the temperature was
estimated to be 31 °C with the number of significant figures being
two.
 Rules for Significant figures
• All nonzero digits are significant, e.g. 321.5
• Zeros between two significant figures are significant, e.g.
4.006
• Zeros at the beginning of a number are never significant,
e.g. 00125.45 = 125.45
• Zeros at the end of a number are significant if a decimal
point is written in the number, e.g. 125.350 has six
significant figures but 125350 has only five significant
figures
 Problems
Determine the number of significant figures in each of the following
numbers:
i) 12
ii) 1040
iii) 200.
iv) 25000000000000
v) 0.000000002457
vi) 400.0
vii) 305
viii) 1.350
ix) 10.34
 Problems
Determine the number of significant figures in each of the
following numbers:
i) 12 2
ii) 1040 3
iii) 200. 3
iv) 25000000000000 2
v) 0.000000002457 4
vi) 400.0 4
vii) 305 3
viii) 1.350 4
ix) 10.34 4
 Calculations with Significant figures
• When doing calculations with measured quantities, the
least certain measurement limits the certainty of the
calculated quantity and thereby determines the number of
significant figures to be kept in the final answer.
Multiplication and division
• When multiplication or division is performed, answers
contain the same number of significant figures as the
measurement with the fewest significant figures. When the
result contains more than the correct numbers of
significant figures it must be rounded off.
Example
10.34 x 9.12 = 94.3008= 94.3
 Calculations with Significant figures
Addition and Subtraction
• When addition or subtraction is performed, the same
number of decimal places in the answer is given as there
are in the measurement with the least number of decimal
places.
Example
10.34 + 9.125 = 19.465= 19.47

Rounding off: If the digit that must be dropped is less than 5, the
preceding number is left unchanged (4.44 rounded off to two
significant figures becomes 4.4). If the digit that must be dropped is 5
or greater, add 1 to the preceding number and drop all digits further to
the right (9.36 rounded off to two significant figures becomes 9.4).
 Problems
1. Calculate:
i) 0.14 + 0.234 + 0.3764
ii) 0.05675 ÷ 0.0345
iii) 10.45 x 2.067
iv) 110.76 – 12.4
2. Round 5.08546 to
i) 1 significant figure
ii) 2 significant figures
iii) 3 significant figures
iv) 5 significant figures
 Problems
1. Calculate:
i) 0.14 + 0.234 + 0.3764 = 0.7504 = 0.75
ii) 0.05675 ÷ 0.0345 = 1.64
iii) 10.45 x 2.067 = 21.60
iv) 110.76 – 12.4 = 98.4
2. Round 5.08546 to
i) 1 significant figure 5
ii) 2 significant figures 5.1
iii) 3 significant figures 5.09
iv) 5 significant figures 5.0855
 Calculations with Significant figures
• When doing calculations with more than one step, retain all
non-significant figures and round off in the final answer.
The order of calculations: finish calculations in brackets;
multiplication and division; addition and subtraction
Example
3.21 + 4.67 x (4.56 - 2.224)
3.21 + 4.67 x (4.56 - 2.224)
= 3.21 + 4.67 x (2.336)
= 3.21 + 10.90912
=14.11912
=14.1
 Problems
1. Calculate, to the correct number of significant figures:
i) 0.0034 ÷ (0.34 + 0.006)
ii) 754 + (4.55 x 5.5)
iii) 863 x [1255 – (3.45 x 108)
iv) [(285.3 x 105) – (1.200 x 103)] x 2.8954
 Problems
1. Calculate, to the correct number of significant figures:
i) 0.0034 ÷ (0.34 + 0.006) = 0.0034 ÷ 0.346 = 0.009826589
= 9.8 x 10-3

ii) 754 + (4.55 x 5.5) = 754 + 25.025 = 779.025 = 779

iii) 863 x [1255 – (3.45 x 108)] = 863 x [1255 – 372.6]

= 863 x 882.4 = 761511.2 = 7.62 x 105

iv) [(285.3 x 105) – (1.200 x 103)] x 2.8954

= [(285.3 x 105) – (0.01200 x 105)] x (2.8954)
= 285.28800 x 105 x 2.8954
= 82602287.52
= 8.260 x 107
 Some basic Mathematical Operations
Logarithms
• The common, or base-10, logarithm (log) of any number is
the power to which 10 must be raised to equal the number.
Example
The log of a 1000= 103= 1000, therefore log 1000= 3
The log of 31.45 is the number x that satisfies the following relationship
10x = 31.45

Or y = 10x
Then x is the log of y and is written as
x = log y
 Some basic Mathematical Operations
Natural Logarithms
• The symbol “e” is a mathematical constant (like π) where e
= 2.718.......
• The natural logarithm (ln) of a number is the power that
the number e has to be raised to in order to equal that
value.
Example
The ln of 50= e3.912= 50, therefore ln 50= 3.912
Calculations with Significant figures and logs
• The log of 1.65 is 0.217483944 but how many decimal
places should be reported?
The rule is that the number of decimal places in the answer
is equal to the number of significant figures in the initial
number.
Example
log 1.65 = 0.217
The reverse also applies. When we take the antilog of a
number the answer must be reported with the number of
significant figures as there are number of decimal places in
the initial number
Example
Antilog0.8345 = 100.8345 = 6.83124718 = 6.831
 Graphs
• The clearest way to represent the relationship between two
variables is through using a graph.
• The coordinate system used to draw graphs is divided into 4
quadrants: Y axis

II I

0
X axis

III IV
 Graphs
• Usually, the variable that is experimentally varied and is
called the independent variable is plotted along the x-axis.
• The variable that responds to the change in relation to the
independent variable is called the dependent variable and
is plotted along the y-axis.
Y axis

Dependent
II I
0
Independent X axis

III IV
 Drawing a graph
1) Draw the x and y-axis on the graph paper and show the origin.
2) Give the graph a title e.g. distance traveled over time
3) Label each axis with the name of the variable (as well as the
unit).
4) Determine a scale for the x and y axis (utilize ~ 80 % of the
available space)
5) Plot each data point represented by an x- and y-coordinate.
6) Draw a straight line (using a ruler) that fits through most of
the points.
7) Determine the slope and y-intercept of the graph. The
formula of a straight line is y= mx + c where m is the slope an
c the y-intercept. To determine the slope identify two points
on the line drawn on the graph (not data points).
 Drawing a graph
1) Slope= m=

2) c= y intercept on the graph

x
 Problems
Represent the following results from an experiment using a
graph and also calculate the slope and y-intercept.
Time (min) Mass of benzene (g)
0 40
5 37
10 35
15 33
20 31
 Mass against time
45

40

35

30
y = -0,44x + 39,6
Mass (g)

25

20

15

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Time (min)
 Mass against time
41

39

37
Mass (g)

35

33

31
y = -0,44x + 39,6

29
0 5 10 15 20 25
Time (min)
 Dimensional Analysis
• Dimensional analysis is a technique to systematically
solve numerical problems and is particularly useful when
converting between different units.
• There are three sections to a dimensional analysis
approach:

Starting amount Equal amounts End amount

Given unit Desired unit

Desired unit
Given unit
 Dimensional Analysis
• If a cellphone has a mass of 100 pounds what is the mass in
grams? (1 pound= 453.6 g)

Starting amount Equal amounts End amount

45
100 pounds 45360 grams
1 pound 4.54 x 104 grams
 Dimensional Analysis
• If a cellphone has a mass of 100 pounds what is the mass in
kilograms? (1 pound= 453.6 g)

Starting amount Equal amounts End amount

100 pounds 45 1
1000 45.36 kilograms
1 pound
 Problems
Solve the following problems using dimensional analysis:
1) Convert 515 m/s to miles per hour
2) 0.076 L to mL
3) 1.55 kg/m3 to g/L
4) 5.00 days to s
5) 0.0550 miles to m
 Problems
Solve the following problems using dimensional analysis:
1) Convert 515 m/s to miles per hour
x x x x = 1.15 x 103 mi/hr

2) 0.076 L to mL
x = 76 mL

3) 1.55 kg/m3 to g/L

x x x = 1.55 g/L
 Problems
Solve the following problems using dimensional analysis:

1) 5.00 days to s
x x x = 4.32 x 105 s

2) 0.0550 miles to m
x x = 88.5 m
 Accurate measurements
• A measurement consists of a number and a scale (called a unit).
• To say that the mass of a bag is simply 25.5 is meaningless without a
unit attached.
• Including the unit thus expresses the mass (25.5 kg) properly since it
gives context to the number.
• In scientific measurements the units that are used are those of the
metric system.
 SI units
• In 1960 an international agreement was reached in which it was
specified which metric units would be used for different scientific
measurements.
• These preferred units are called SI units (Systeme International
d’Unites).
• There are seven base units from which all other units are derived.
 Prefixes
• In some cases where the base unit is inconvenient to work with a
prefix is added to indicate decimal fractions or multiples of various
units.
• For eg. the prefix “milli” denotes a 10-3 fraction (0,001) fraction of a
unit.
 Problems
Use exponential notation to express the following:
a) 4.56 mg in grams
b) 4.56 μg in kg
c) 4.56 nanograms in picograms
 Problems
Use exponential notation to express the following:
1) 4.56 mg in grams
4.56 x 10-3 grams
2) 4.56 μg in kg
4.56 x 10-9 kg
3) 4.56 nanograms in picograms
4.560 x 103 pg
 SI units
• Length: The SI base unit of length is the meter (m).
• Mass (m): The measure of the amount of material in an
object. The SI base unit of mass is the kilogram (kg).
• Temperature: The Kelvin is the SI unit of temperature.
• There are no negative Kelvin temperatures.
• K = C + 273.15
• Time: The SI unit is the second
• Mole: The SI unit for amount of substance is the mole and
is calculated by considering the mass and molar mass of a
substance (n= m/Mr)
 Derived SI units
• Volume: The most commonly used metric units for
volume are the liter (L = dm3) and the milliliter (mL =
cm3).
• Density: Density is a physical property of a substance. It
is defined as the amount of mass in a unit of volume
and is determined through the following formula:

• The units for density are g/cm3 or g/mL

 Precision and Accuracy
• Accuracy: how close the measurement is to the
correct or true value.
• Precision: how similar individual measurements are
to another.

Good accuracy, Bad accuracy, Bad accuracy,

good precision good precision bad precision