How to Use Your Scientific Calculator

Melissa Maribel
10 Aug 202006:36

TLDRThis tutorial video teaches the essentials of using a scientific calculator for chemistry, focusing on entering numbers in scientific notation, switching between standard and scientific notation, handling fractions and decimals, and performing operations with percentages, roots, powers, and logarithms. It also highlights common mistakes, such as forgetting parentheses, and offers tips for solving stoichiometry problems accurately. The video concludes with advice on practicing with calculator tips and additional resources for excelling in chemistry.

Takeaways

  • 🔢 To write a number in scientific notation on a calculator, input the coefficient first, then press 'EE' or 'EXP', followed by the exponent.
  • ➡️ Use the 'SCI' button to toggle between scientific and standard notation.
  • 📐 To input a fraction, enter the numerator first, press the fraction button, then the denominator.
  • 🔄 Press '2nd' followed by the fraction button to convert a fraction to a decimal or vice versa.
  • ➖ Subtract fractions by entering the first fraction, pressing the minus sign, and then entering the second fraction.
  • 🔢 Quickly convert a percentage to a decimal by pressing '2nd' and the percent button.
  • 🆙 For powers, input the base number, press the exponentiation button, then the exponent.
  • 🛑 To find roots or raise to a power other than two or three, input the number, press the root or exponentiation button, then the root or exponent.
  • 📊 Use the 'log' button for logarithms and 'ln' for natural logarithms.
  • 🅰️ To avoid calculation errors, use parentheses as needed by pressing the open and close parentheses buttons.
  • 🔄 Practice problems are available to help you get familiar with using your calculator for chemistry.

Q & A

  • What is the purpose of the video?

    -The purpose of the video is to teach viewers how to use a scientific calculator effectively for chemistry class.

  • Which calculator brand is used in the video?

    -A standard scientific calculator from Texas Instruments is used in the video.

  • How do you enter a number in scientific notation on a scientific calculator?

    -To enter a number in scientific notation, you first enter the coefficient, then press EE or EXP, and finally enter the exponent.

  • What buttons are used to change the sign from positive to negative on a calculator?

    -The button to change the sign from positive to negative is usually labeled as ± or CHNG SIGN.

  • How can you switch between standard notation and scientific notation on a calculator?

    -To switch between standard and scientific notation, you press 2nd followed by the button where SCI is located.

  • How do you enter a fraction on a scientific calculator?

    -To enter a fraction, you enter the numerator first, press the fraction button, and then enter the denominator.

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

    -To convert a fraction to a decimal, press 2nd and then the button that converts fractions to decimals.

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

    -To change a percentage to a decimal, press 2nd and then the percent button.

  • How do you calculate a square on a scientific calculator?

    -To calculate a square, enter the number and press the square button, usually labeled as x² or (x)².

  • What is the procedure to find the cube root of a number using a calculator?

    -To find the cube root, enter the number, press 2nd, then the cube root button, usually labeled as ∛ or x⁻³.

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

    -To calculate the fourth root, enter the number, press 2nd, then the root button, and enter the root number, which is four in this case.

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

    -The common mistake to avoid is forgetting to use parentheses to ensure the correct order of operations.

Outlines

00:00

🧪 Mastering Scientific Calculator Usage

This section of the video script provides a comprehensive guide on how to use a scientific calculator effectively for chemistry class. It starts with an introduction to the calculator, mentioning that even if the viewer's calculator is different, the principles will still apply due to the standardization of calculator buttons and functions. The script then delves into how to input numbers in scientific notation, explaining the process of entering the coefficient and exponent separately, and how to switch between scientific and standard notation. It also covers the input of fractions and their conversion to decimals, as well as basic mathematical operations with fractions. The script further explains how to convert percentages to decimals and how to calculate roots and powers, including square roots, cube roots, and raising numbers to any power. It concludes with a discussion on how to handle logarithms and natural logarithms using the calculator.

05:03

📘 Avoiding Common Calculator Mistakes in Stoichiometry

The second paragraph focuses on a common mistake made while using a calculator for stoichiometry problems: forgetting to use parentheses, which can lead to incorrect results. The script provides a step-by-step guide on how to correctly input stoichiometry calculations, emphasizing the importance of using parentheses to ensure the correct order of operations. It suggests an alternative method for those who find the parentheses method challenging: multiplying the numerator and denominator separately before dividing. The section ends with a reminder to practice problems and a suggestion to watch the last video in the playlist for additional resources to help pass chemistry.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Scientific Calculator

A scientific calculator is an electronic device designed to perform complex mathematical calculations, including those used in scientific and engineering fields. In the video, the scientific calculator is presented as an essential tool for chemistry students, highlighting its ability to handle scientific notation, fractions, roots, powers, and logarithms. The video demonstrates how to input numbers in scientific notation, a feature that is crucial for working with very large or very small numbers.

💡Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is a way of expressing numbers that are too big or too small to be conveniently written in decimal form. It is commonly used by scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. In the video, the process of entering a number in scientific notation is explained, where 'EE' or 'EXP' is used to denote the power of 10. For example, the number 2.1 times 10 to the negative 3rd power is shown as 2.1 EE -3.

💡Coefficient

In mathematics, the coefficient is a multiplicative factor in a term within an algebraic expression. In the context of scientific notation, the coefficient is the number before the 'times 10' expression. The video illustrates entering a coefficient, such as 2.1, before entering the exponent to express a number like 2.1 x 10^-3.

💡Exponent

An exponent is used to indicate the power to which a number is to be raised. In scientific notation, the exponent indicates the number of places the decimal point is moved. The video shows how to input an exponent on a calculator, such as entering '3' and then the negative sign to represent -3, for the number 2.1 x 10^-3.

💡Fraction

A fraction represents a part of a whole, expressed as a numerator divided by a denominator. The video explains how to input fractions on a scientific calculator, such as entering '1' for the numerator, followed by a fraction button, and then '2' for the denominator to represent one-half.

💡Decimal

A decimal is a way of representing fractions using digits after a decimal point. The video demonstrates converting fractions to decimals on a calculator by pressing a specific button, which is useful for simplifying calculations that are easier to perform in decimal form.

💡Percentage

A percentage is a way of expressing a number as a fraction of 100. It is often used in everyday contexts such as discounts, interest rates, and polling data. The video shows how to convert a percentage to a decimal on a calculator by pressing '2nd' and then the percent button, which simplifies calculations involving percentages.

💡Square

In mathematics, to square a number means to multiply it by itself. The video demonstrates how to calculate the square of a number, such as 5 squared, by entering the number and pressing the square button, which is useful for various mathematical operations and problems.

💡Square Root

The square root of a number is a value that, when multiplied by itself, gives the original number. The video explains how to find the square root on a calculator by entering the number and pressing the square root button, which is essential for solving equations and problems involving square roots.

💡Cube

To cube a number means to raise it to the power of three. The video shows how to calculate 2 cubed by entering the number, pressing '2nd', and then the '1' button to represent 2^3, which is useful in various mathematical contexts, including geometry and algebra.

💡Cube Root

The cube root of a number is a value that, when cubed, gives the original number. The video demonstrates finding the cube root by entering the number, pressing '2nd', and then '0', followed by the equal sign, which is crucial for solving equations involving cubic relationships.

💡Logarithm

A logarithm is the inverse operation to exponentiation. It is the power to which a number, called the base, must be raised to produce a given number. The video explains how to calculate logarithms on a calculator by entering the number and pressing the log button, which is important for solving equations and understanding the scale of growth or decay.

💡Natural Log

The natural log, or ln, is the logarithm to the base e, where e is an irrational number approximately equal to 2.71828. The video shows how to calculate the natural log by entering the number and pressing the ln button, which is used in various scientific and mathematical contexts, including calculus and statistics.

💡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 in complex calculations like stoichiometry problems.

Highlights

Learn how to use your scientific calculator for chemistry class.

Most scientific calculators have the same buttons and functions.

Enter a number in scientific notation by plugging in the coefficient first.

Press 'EE' or 'EXP' to account for 'times 10' portion.

Input the exponent followed by the negative sign to indicate negative exponents.

Switch between standard and scientific notation using the 'SCI' button.

Change fractions to decimals by pressing '2nd' and the fraction button.

Perform mathematical operations with fractions using the calculator.

Subtract fractions by entering the numerator and denominator sequentially.

Change a percentage to a decimal by pressing '2nd' and the percent symbol.

Calculate squares and square roots by using the corresponding calculator buttons.

Raise a number to a power by entering the base and then pressing 'x^y'.

Find roots other than square or cube by using the 'y√x' function.

Use parentheses correctly to ensure accurate stoichiometry calculations.

Avoid common calculator mistakes by double-checking your parentheses.

Practice problems are available to help you get familiar with calculator operations.

Additional resources are provided to assist in passing chemistry.

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