Class Topics: 10.12.11

In EDM today, we began our Unit Two Summative Assessment.  The skills that are covered on this assessment are:

• Calculating sums and differences for the addition and subtraction of decimals
• Calculating products and quotients for the multiplication and division of decimals
• Determining unit prices of items
• Identifying and correcting errors in other's work when dealing with decimal computations 
• Converting Standard Notation to Scientific Notation
• Communicating mathematically to explain how one developed an answer to a problem situation

In Pre-Algebra today, we discussed as a class what we were successful on when taking the Chapter Two Summative Assessment and where we faltered.  We revisited Scientific Notation in hopes of gaining a more thorough understanding of the concept.  Finally, there are three story problems below that Pre-Algebra students are to respond to by posting to the blog.

1. Scientists estimate the sun to be 93,000,000 miles away from Earth.  Rather than write this in Standard Notation, scientists will often converted it into Scientific Notation.  What would this look like in Scientific Notation?  (Use the ^ key to show what power you are using.  For example, 4.5 x 10^3 power = 4,500)
2. The speed of light, the distance in which light travels, is roughly 300,000 kilometers per second.  How would I convert that into Scientific Notation?
3. The weight of one atomic mass unit (AMU) is equal to 0.00000000000000000000000000166 kg.  Rather than write that out over and over in reports, people convert it into Scientific Notation.  What would that number look like in Scientific Notation?