Embedded Files
Lesson overview
Lesson overview
In this lesson you will:
learn to calculate numbers written in scientific notation
discover how scientific notation is used in comparing speed, understanding money and thinking about computer data storage.
Activity 1 - Are you smarter than a calculator?
Activity 1 - Are you smarter than a calculator?
In lesson 2, Scale of the Universe we learned that scientific notation is another way to write numbers that are very large and very small.
We need to be able to complete calculations with these numbers, such as adding long distances together. For example, how far is it if I take a rocket to the moon and then travel to Mars?
Task 1
Task 1
Type the equation into your calculator.
What answer did you get?
There are limits to what our calculators can do when working with very large numbers.
Task 2
Task 2
Let's learn how you can find the answer to this type of calculation.
We are going to learn to use the same operations and rules we used with negative indices and apply them to multiplying and dividing with numbers written in scientific notation.
Watch the video, Scientific Notation Multiply and Divide to understand the index laws.
Try using this method to complete the calculation.
Note: You can check your answers (to numbers with smaller powers) are correct by using the scientific notation button on your calculators. If you need a reminder of how to do that, watch the video, Entering & Interpreting Scientific Notation on Calculators.
Scientific Notation Multiply and Divide
Duration: 3:11
Entering & Interpreting Scientific Notation on Calculators
Duration: 6:21
Activity 2 - Adding and subtracting using scientific notation
Activity 2 - Adding and subtracting using scientific notation
Task 1
Task 1
Watch the video, Scientific Notation - Addition and Subtraction.
Note: Stop watching at 1.27.
Use the information from the video to complete some of the questions on levels 7 and 8 on the Standard Form activity.
Scientific Notation - Addition and Subtraction
Duration: 7:05
Visit the Standard Form 7 page on Transum.org.
Click on the image link to open the activity in a new tab.
ONLY attempt the questions that have the same exponents.
Task 2
Task 2
Check your understanding of all the things you've learned about scientific notation by completing the quiz.
Visit the Standard Form 9 page on Transum.org.
Click on the image link to open the activity in a new tab.
Activity 3 - Applications of scientific notation
Activity 3 - Applications of scientific notation
Now that we know how to read, write, and calculate with numbers in scientific notation, we can apply these skills to practical measurement situations.
Task 1 - Interpreting speeds
Task 1 - Interpreting speeds
Complete the Interpreting speeds activity using the Google Doc to explore how the speed of light changes depending on the substance it is traveling through.
Click on the button to open a new tab and view the Google Doc.
Click on the Use Template button to create a copy for you to edit.
Task 2 - How much money?
Task 2 - How much money?
Visit the Wealth shown to scale page on github.
Scroll sideways through the page by holding down the shift key and using your mouse wheel, or swiping left in your mousepad.
Be patient and keep going, the scale of numbers is so large that you'll need to scroll for a long time.
Complete the How much money activity using the Google Doc.
Click on the button to open a new tab and view the Google Doc.
Click on the Use Template button to create a copy for you to edit.
Task 3 - Computer data storage measurements
Task 3 - Computer data storage measurements
Complete the How much data? activity using the Google Doc to explore the size of what we mean when we talk about gigs or a terabyte of data in realtion to computers.
Click on the button to open a new tab and view the Google Doc.
Click on the Use Template button to create a copy for you to edit.
Activities too easy?
Activities too easy?
How do we add and subtract in scientific notation when the exponents are not the same?
Go back to the video, Scientific Notation - Addition and Subtraction in Activity 2, Task 1 and continue watching from 1:27.
Then, complete the rest of questions on levels 7 and 8 Standards Form pages on Transum.org.
Handing in your work
Handing in your work
Don't forget to hand in the work you completed today!
Your teacher will have told you to do one of the following:
Upload any digital documents you created and any photos you took of your written work to your Learning Management system (MS Teams, Google Classroom for example).
Email any digital documents you created and any photos you took of your written work to your teacher.
Make sure you keep any hand written work you did in your exercise book or folder as your teacher may need to see these when you are back in class.
Student reflection
Student reflection
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