Spring 2013

Physics 150-Basic Math

 

Scientific notation

When dealing with very large or very small numbers, it is much more convenient (and takes a lot less typing) to use scientific notation. Scientific notation takes the form  and the rule is quite simple. If n is positive, move the decimal point n places to the right. If n is negative, move the decimal point n places to the left. When typing, we often abbreviate scientific notation with an "e" instead of the . Some examples:

 

 

Algebra

We will use the following notation:

  means "x plus y"

 means "x minus y"

 means "x times y"

 means "x divided by y"

 means "x to the y power" or "x times itself y times".

Example: 

 means "the square root of x" and

 

 

Geometry and Trigonometry

The figure shows a right triangle.  It is a right triangle because one of the angles is   The other two angles are  and the sides have length a, b, and c.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have the following relationships:

Pythagorean Theorem: 

Sine is opposite over hypotenuse:   and

Cosine is adjacent over hypotenuse:   and

Tangent is opposite over adjacent:   and