How to Use Your Scientific Calculator

Melissa Maribel
10 Aug 202006:36

TLDRThis tutorial video teaches how to use a scientific calculator effectively for chemistry class. It covers entering numbers in scientific notation, switching between standard and scientific notations, handling fractions and decimals, converting percentages to decimals, and calculating roots and powers. The video also explains solving stoichiometry problems with proper use of parentheses to avoid errors, and provides additional resources for mastering chemistry.

Takeaways

  • 🔢 To write a number in scientific notation, enter the coefficient first, then press 'EE' or 'EXP', and finally input the exponent.
  • 🔄 Switch between standard and scientific notation using 'SCI' (accessed by pressing '2nd' then '5') for scientific and 'FLO' (accessed by pressing '2nd' then '4') for standard notation.
  • 📏 To input a fraction, enter the numerator, press the fraction button, then the denominator. The calculator will display the fraction symbol.
  • 🔀 Convert fractions to decimals by pressing '2nd' and the fraction conversion button, and vice versa.
  • ➖ Subtract fractions by entering the first fraction, pressing the minus sign, and then entering the second fraction followed by the equals sign.
  • 🔢 Quickly convert percentages to decimals by pressing '2nd' and the percent button.
  • 🔠 For powers, enter the base, press the power button, and then input the exponent. For roots, enter the number, press the root button, and input the root degree.
  • 🔄 To calculate higher roots or powers, enter the number, press the power/root button, input the exponent/root degree, and press equals.
  • 📊 Use the 'log' button for logarithms and 'ln' for natural logarithms. For exponentiated logs, input the exponent first, then use '2nd' followed by the log button.
  • ❌ Remember to use parentheses when performing operations that require them to ensure the correct order of operations and avoid errors.
  • 🔄 For complex stoichiometry problems, use parentheses to group operations, multiply the numerators together and the denominators together, then divide.

Q & A

  • What is the first step in entering a number in scientific notation on a scientific calculator?

    -The first step is to enter the coefficient, such as 2.1 in the example provided.

  • How do you indicate the 'times 10' portion in scientific notation on a calculator?

    -You press EE or EXP, depending on your calculator, to indicate 'times 10' or '10 to the nth power'.

  • What button combination is used to input an exponent on a scientific calculator?

    -You input the exponent by entering the number first, followed by the negative sign if it's negative.

  • How can you switch from standard notation to scientific notation on a calculator?

    -Press 2nd and then the button where SCI is located, usually the 5 button.

  • What is the process to convert a number from scientific notation back to standard notation?

    -Press 2nd and then the button where FLO is located, typically the 4 button.

  • How do you enter a fraction like one half on a scientific calculator?

    -Enter the numerator first, press the fraction button, and then enter the denominator.

  • What is the method to convert a fraction to a decimal on a scientific calculator?

    -Press 2nd and then the button that converts fractions to decimals.

  • How can you change a percentage to a decimal using a scientific calculator?

    -Enter the percentage number and then press 2nd followed by the percent button.

  • What button is used to calculate the square of a number on a scientific calculator?

    -Enter the number and then press the square button, usually labeled as x² or similar.

  • How do you calculate the square root of a number on a scientific calculator?

    -Enter the number and then press the square root button, often labeled as √ or similar.

  • What is the process for calculating higher powers or roots that are not square or cube on a calculator?

    -Enter the base number, press the power or root button, enter the exponent or root degree, and then press the equal sign or enter.

  • How do you calculate logs or natural logs on a scientific calculator?

    -Enter the number, press the log button for logs, or press 2nd and then the log button for natural logs.

  • What is the most common mistake to avoid when performing stoichiometry calculations on a calculator?

    -Forgetting to use parentheses to ensure the correct order of operations, which can lead to incorrect answers.

Outlines

00:00

🧪 Mastering Scientific Calculator for Chemistry

This paragraph introduces the essential use of a scientific calculator in chemistry classes, specifically a model from Texas Instruments. It covers the basics of entering numbers in scientific notation, including coefficients and exponents, and the distinction between the negative sign and the minus sign. The video also explains how to toggle between scientific and standard notations, handle fractions and their conversions to decimals, and perform operations like subtraction on fractions. Additionally, it shows how to convert percentages to decimals and how to calculate roots and powers, including square roots, cubes, and higher order roots and powers. The segment ends with a brief introduction to logarithmic calculations.

05:03

📘 Avoiding Common Calculator Mistakes in Stoichiometry

The second paragraph focuses on a common mistake made while solving stoichiometry problems using a calculator: forgetting to use parentheses, which can lead to incorrect results. It provides a step-by-step guide on how to correctly input expressions into the calculator to ensure accurate calculations. The guide includes using parentheses to group terms correctly and dividing the result by another set of grouped terms. As an alternative, the video suggests multiplying the numerator and denominator separately before dividing. The paragraph concludes with encouragement to practice problems and to utilize additional resources provided in the video playlist to excel in chemistry.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Scientific Calculator

A scientific calculator is an electronic device used for performing various complex mathematical calculations, including those involving trigonometry, logarithms, and exponential functions. In the video, the scientific calculator is the central tool for demonstrating how to perform calculations in chemistry, such as working with scientific notation, fractions, roots, and powers.

💡Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is a way of expressing numbers that are too large or too small to be conveniently written in decimal form. It is commonly used by scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. In the video, the narrator explains how to input a number in scientific notation using the calculator, for example, by entering '2.1' followed by 'EE' or 'EXP' and then the exponent '-3'.

💡Coefficient

In mathematics, a coefficient is a numerical factor multiplying a variable, such as the '2' in '2x'. The video script uses the term when instructing how to input numbers in scientific notation, emphasizing that the coefficient (like '2.1') should be entered before the 'EE' or 'EXP' to indicate the multiplication by 10 raised to a certain power.

💡Exponent

An exponent is a number that indicates how many times a base number is multiplied by itself. For example, 'x^3' means 'x' multiplied by itself three times. In the video, the narrator demonstrates how to input an exponent on a scientific calculator, which is crucial for expressing large or small numbers concisely.

💡Fraction

A fraction represents a part of a whole, divided into equal parts. It consists of a numerator (the part taken) and a denominator (the total number of parts). The video shows how to input fractions on a calculator, such as entering '1' followed by a fraction button and then '2' for one-half.

💡Decimal

A decimal is a way of representing fractions using digits after a decimal point. It is a common way to express measurements and quantities. The video script explains how to convert fractions to decimals on a calculator by pressing a specific button, which is useful for simplifying calculations.

💡Square Root

The square root of a number is a value that, when multiplied by itself, gives the original number. For example, the square root of 9 is 3 because 3*3=9. The video demonstrates how to calculate the square root using a calculator by entering the number followed by the square root button.

💡Cube Root

A cube root is a number that, when raised to the third power, equals the original number. The video script instructs viewers on how to calculate the cube root on a calculator, which is done by entering the number, then using a specific sequence of buttons to indicate the cube root operation.

💡Logarithm

A logarithm is the inverse operation to exponentiation. It is the power to which a number (the base) must be raised to produce another number. The video explains how to use the 'log' button on a calculator to find the logarithm of a number, which is essential for solving various scientific equations.

💡Natural Logarithm

The natural logarithm (ln) is the logarithm to the base 'e', where 'e' is an irrational number approximately equal to 2.71828. It is widely used in mathematics, physics, and engineering. The video script provides instructions on how to calculate the natural logarithm using the 'ln' button on a calculator.

💡Parentheses

Parentheses are used in mathematical expressions to indicate the order of operations, grouping numbers and operations together. The video emphasizes the importance of using parentheses correctly on a calculator to ensure accurate results, especially when performing complex calculations like stoichiometry problems.

Highlights

Introduction to using a scientific calculator for chemistry class.

Using a standard scientific calculator from Texas Instruments.

Entering a number in scientific notation: coefficient first, then EE or EXP.

Plugging in the exponent with a negative sign.

Switching between standard and scientific notation using SCI button.

Writing fractions on the calculator with numerator and denominator.

Converting fractions to decimals using the 2nd function.

Changing decimals back to fractions using the 2nd function.

Subtracting fractions using the calculator.

Changing the answer from fraction to decimal form.

Quickly converting percentages to decimals using the percent symbol.

Calculating powers and roots on the calculator.

Finding square roots and cube roots using specific calculator buttons.

Raising a number to a power other than two or three.

Finding roots of numbers not squared or cubed.

Using logs and natural logs on the calculator.

Avoiding common calculator mistakes with parentheses.

Properly using parentheses for stoichiometry problems on the calculator.

Recommendation to practice problems for better understanding.

Additional resources to help pass chemistry.

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