Confused about Uncertainty Principle Equation

[Tiffany 3F]

Can someone clarify what the equation for the uncertainty principle is exactly? Is it ΔpΔx= 1/2ħ or ΔpΔx ≥ h/4π? I see the first one written in the textbook and the second one on the formula sheet.

In the case they are both correct, how would I get from ΔpΔx ≥ h/4π to ΔpΔx= 1/2ħ?

[Yareli Cervantes 2C]

Hi the equation would be Δx * Δp ≥ h/2. To get to ΔpΔx ≥ h/4π to ΔpΔx= 1/2h you change the sign to equal when you take the reciprocal I believe, so the reciprocal can either be more or less than 1.

[Katie L 2I]

Hi, on this topic, when would you decide to change the sign/decide to use one equation vs. the other?

[Chem_Mod]

So ΔpΔx= 1/2ħ should be ΔpΔx= ħ/2 . ħ just equals Planck's constant over 2pi (ħ = h/2π). Substitute h/2π where ħ is (ΔpΔx = ħ/2 -> ΔpΔx= (h/2π)*(1/2) )then you get ΔpΔx ≥ h/4π. Hope this helps!