Topic 1 Measurement, Scalars, and Vectors

Exponents

For any nonzero number a and any integer n:

o

a =1; a =a ; a =

1
an

If a, b, x, y, and z are all integers:

o

a
y
x+ y
( x)(a )=a

a
=a x y
y
a

( ab ) x =a x b x

a x b y z =a xz b yz

a =a
x

x
y

Metric Prefixes

Nano 10-9; Micro 10-6; Milli 10-3; Centi 10-2; Kilo 103; Mega 106

Graphing
A linear graph results when two quantities that are proportional to one
another are plotted

m=

rise y
=
run x

The slope is the rise over the run:

Area under the curve represents the quantities on the yaxis multiplied by
the xaxis for a particular interval units are also multiplied in the same
manner
When two quantities are not proportional to one another, but one relies on
the square of the other, a parabolic graph can be formed

Trigonometry
SOH CAH TOA; Sin = O/H; Cos = A/H; Tan = O/A
This will be asked in conjunction with the Pythagorean theorem: c2 = a2 + b2

Scalars and Vectors

Scalar: quantity with only size/magnitude; Vector: quantity with both

size/magnitude and direction

Vectors can be graphically added to one another by placing the tail of one
vector onto the tip of the previous vector this gives the resultant vector
o Vectors can be added in any way, that is a to b or b to a can be
referred to as commutative
o Equilibrant: vector that can cancel or balance the resultant vector
always equal and opposite to the resultant vector
A vector component is the projection or shadow of a vector onto the xaxis
or yaxis
o The projection of vector A onto the xaxis, Ax; onto the yaxis, Ay
o Using Pythagoras theorem, the magnitude of the vector can be
determined

| A|= A x 2 + A y 2

o The following trigonometric identities also emerge:

Ax = A cos ; Ay = A sin ; Tan = Ay/Ax

The algebraic sum of the x-components of two vectors equals the xcomponent of the resultant, the same is true of the y- components