Re: "Proper" scientific notation

[Sam Sampere <sampere@suhep.phy.syr.edu>]

I was really surprised that this thread lives on.  I am even more
surprised at some of the repies.

The notation is good and useful if it really facilitates understanding the
information being conveyed.  Unfortunately, most 12th grade students
have not the foggiest idea what 3E8 REALLY means.  I say this because many
of the college students don't understand what this means.  Write what you
mean, The 'fortran' notation does not (note, no contraction!) save any
significant time or space.  Real estate is prime on a calculator display;
it's logical for manufacturers to use the shorthand notation there.  You
won't save many trees using the shorthand notation on homework or exams.


Make'emwritethewholethingout!

Sam

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Sampere
Syracuse University
Department of Physics
Syracuse (Where all the snow is NOT..), NY 13244



On Mon, 9 Mar 1998, Robert Curtis wrote:

> Notation such as 3E5 is good. It is convenient, and came long before
> calculators. Students should be familiar with it. I suspect we should
> BAN the use of calculators but keep 3E5 (ie fortran) notation!
>
> Don't be so old fashioned about a matter of style and expression.
>
> Bob Curtis
> _____
> Robert Kern Curtis      Hackensack, New Jersey
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