Re: [Phys-l] scientific notation

["Pete Lohstreter" <plohstreter@mail.hockaday.org>]

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                           "Happy is he who gets to know 
The Hockaday School                 the reasons for things. "
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plohstreter@mail.hockaday.org

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