Re: [Phys-l] scientific notation

[Brian Whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>]

Pete Lohstreter wrote:
> Forum for Physics Educators <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu> writes:
>   
> > Ah, how easily I am deceived by a value in scientific notation that is 
> > not normalized....
> > 10.0 E-2 would normalize to 1.0 E-1 and the conflict would be reduced. 
> > Or would it?
> >     
>
> Hummm...   Isn't  1.0 x 10 ^-1  just 1?    which is not really the same
> thing as 10 x 10^-2 - is it?  Or do you really mean 10 raised to the -2
> power?
>
> I discourage my students from using the 'E' notation on anything.  They
> have to use it on their calculators, but if they write it down,  they must
> use the  x 10 ^n   notation.  It is a struggle at first, they want to
> write down exactly what they see on their calculators without really
> thinking about it.  Making them change to 'normal' scientific notation at
> least makes them look at the number again.
>
>
>
> Pete Lohstreter  
This is certainly not the first time that this list has expressed 
reservations about scientific notation. In topics that suffer from 
insight-blindness - a deficit which is much like spelling blindness for 
particular words - and who does not suffer from this one?   I find that a
touchstone is helpful. For Scientific notation for example, my 
touchstone is this equation:

[AnyNumber]^0 = 1    

 For me, it is not difficult to spring from 10^0 = 1 to this:  10^-1 = 1/10

From this spring board, you will probably agree that  1.0 X 10^-1 = 1.0 
X 1/10

Brian W