When doing problems like those on the homework, it is better or worse to use the "expanded" version of the decimal instead of writing out ___ .10^x ?
For example if I input something into my calculator and the answer is 0.0000095 should I continue to use that or should I change it to 9.5x10^-6? Or does it not make a difference either way? Hopefully this question makes sense, thanks!
Using expanded decimals vs not
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Re: Using expanded decimals vs not
Hi! I don't really think it makes a difference, but since we are so used to seeing scientific notation in practice problems, it would be better to get into the habit of using scientific notation. Hope this helps!
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Re: Using expanded decimals vs not
I would suggest trying to not round too much while doing your work but not using too many decimals at the end...I made the mistake of over rounding while doing my work which led to an incorrect answer that left me stumped on one of the AChieve problems. I feel using around 2 decimals at the end is sufficient unless stated otherwise.
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Re: Using expanded decimals vs not
Technically, the expanded and scientific notation are the same number so both would be correct. If a question provides information in the scientific notation form, it may be easier to keep it consistent and give your answer in scientific notation as well.
Re: Using expanded decimals vs not
Hi Mya,
Like others, I don't think it matters too much. They are technically both the same number with different estimations. It depends on what you are comfortable with using and like other things in science, there are limits to everything so don't overestimate nor underestimate.
Personally, I prefer to use the extended decimal since scientific notation confuses me when I'm putting it in the calculator with all the multiplication signs. Yet at the end, I change my answer to scientific notation because of sigfigs.
Hopefully this gives you some clarity!
Like others, I don't think it matters too much. They are technically both the same number with different estimations. It depends on what you are comfortable with using and like other things in science, there are limits to everything so don't overestimate nor underestimate.
Personally, I prefer to use the extended decimal since scientific notation confuses me when I'm putting it in the calculator with all the multiplication signs. Yet at the end, I change my answer to scientific notation because of sigfigs.
Hopefully this gives you some clarity!
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Re: Using expanded decimals vs not
I don't think it matters too much since they're the same answer, but scientific notation would probably be easier since problems are typically given in scientific notations.
Re: Using expanded decimals vs not
It doesn't make a difference, however when you're writing out the problems in your work or inputting an answer in Achieve, it's more simple and easy to understand if you use scientific notation. When I solve for quadratic equations, I tend to use expanded decimals because it's easier to understand as a single number than if I wrote out the magnitude as well.
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Re: Using expanded decimals vs not
Hi! It doesn't make a huge difference which one you use since they are the same values. That being said, it would be best to make sure that you use whichever one you make fewer typing mistakes with, so that you don't accidentally mistype a value. Otherwise, it does not make much of a difference. Hope this helps!
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Re: Using expanded decimals vs not
I think either should be fine, and sig figs shouldn't matter so much, I remember my TA saying that if you have multiple sig figs, as long as it remains in the near vicinity of the answer, it would be fine.
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