ETHLGN

_____
LENGTH
SNECVROOIN
__________
CONVERSION
FNACSIIINGT
___________
SIGNIFICANT
Lesson 1.3

Reporting
Quantitative
Data
 identify Systeme
1 International (SI) units of
measurement;
Objectives
represent quantitative
At the end
of the
2 data in correct
significant figures; and
lesson, you
should be
able to: convert very large or
3 very small numbers to
scientific notation.
 Learn about It!

Measurement
● It is the process of finding out how many
measuring units are contained in an
event or object based on a certain set of
standards

● Early on, the metric system is the agreed

system of measurement created in
France.

● Each type of measurement has a basic

 Learn about It!

Metric System Prefix Symbol Multiplier Meaning

giga G 1 000 000 000 One billion times

● Conversions can be done

mega M 1 000 000 One million times

by multiplying by factors of kilo k 1 000 One thousand times

10 and adding prefixes to hecto h 100 One hundred times

the units of measurement deci d 0.1 One tenth of

centi c 0.01 One hundredth of

● Examples: milli m 0.001 One thousandth of

1 kilometer = 1000 meters
1 nanometer = one billionth
micro μ 0.000 001 One millionth of

of a meter nano n 0.000 000 000 One billionth of

 Learn about It!

US English System

● The metric system was not adopted in the US.

● The US English system of measurement is derived from day
to day activities using body parts and common objects.
● Examples:
○ distance - foot
○ volume - cups
● This led to discrepancies in the measurement and confusion
when comparing metric and the English units.
 Learn about It!

International System of Units (SI

Units)
Physical

● To avoid confusion, the

Definition Unit Symbol
Quantity

Systeme International length distance between two points meter m

d’Unites or International mass amount of matter in an object kilogram kg

System of Units (SI Units) time interval between two events seconds s

was agreed by many temperature average kinetic energy of kelvin K

scientific agencies.
particles in a body

amount of size of elementary particles in mole mol

● There are (7) fundamental substance a substance

quantities. electric current flow of electric charges ampere A

luminous measure of power emitted by candela cd

intensity a light source
 Learn about It!
International System of Units (SI
Units)

● Units of
Quantity Units Symbol

area square meter  m2

measurements that volume cubic meter  mᶟ

are derived from density kilogram per cubic meter  kg/m3

fundamental units speed meter per second  m/s

are called derived

force kilogram meter per second
squared (or Newtons) 1 kg⋅m/s2 or 1 N

units. energy kilogram meter squared per

second squared (or Joule)  1 kg⋅m2/s2 or 1 J
 Learn about It!
Significant Figures
● A pencil may be measured
using two different rulers.
● First ruler:
○ more than 7 cm, but not sure
if it is 7.5, 7.6, or 7.7 cm
○ first digit 7 is certain but the
second digit is “a guess”
○ reported as 7.5 cm
● Second ruler
○ more than 7.6 cm
○ can be around 7.69 cm
○ record as 7.69 cm wherein
you are sure of the digts 7
and 6, while 9 is a guess
 Learn about It!

Significant Figures
● In recording measurements,
you should always retain
only one uncertain digit.
● all digits that you are sure of
and the one uncertain digit first ruler: 7.5 cm
are called significant second ruler: 7.69 cm
figures.
Rules on
Significant
Figures
RULE # 1 All nonzero digits are significant.

How many significant digits ANSWER

are in each of the following
examples?
a) 438
A. 3
b) 26.42 B. 4
c) 1.7 C. 2
d) .653 D. 3
RULE # 2 Zeroes between nonzero digits are
significant.
How many significant digits are in ANSWER
each of the following
examples?
  A. 4
a) 1001
b) 704 B. 3
c) 45.001 C. 5
RULE # 3 In a decimal number less than 1, zeroes before the
first nonzero digit (leading zeroes) are not significant.

How many significant digits are in ANSWER

each of the following
examples? 1.4
a) 0.001234
b) 0.0202
2.3
c) 0.00089023 3.5
RULE # 4 Zeroes after the last nonzero digit (trailing
zeroes) in a number with a decimal are significant.

How many significant digits ANSWER

are in each of the following
examples? A. 4
a) 1.910 B. 3
b) 0.0670
C. 5
c) 1.0910
RULE # 5 Zeroes after the last nonzero digit (trailing
zeroes) without a decimal point are not significant.

How many significant digits are in ANSWER

each of the following examples?
a) 12 340 A. 4
b) 101 000 B. 3
c) 29 745 000
C. 5
• RULE # 1 All nonzero digits are significant.
• RULE # 2 Zeroes between nonzero digits are
significant.
• RULE # 3 In a decimal number less than 1, zeroes
before the first nonzero digit (leading zeroes) are not
significant.
• RULE # 4 Zeroes after the last nonzero digit (trailing
zeroes) in a number with a decimal are significant.
• RULE # 5 Zeroes after the last nonzero digit (trailing
zeroes) without a decimal point are not significant.
 Learn about It!

Scientific Notation
● It is a systematic way of writing very large or very small
numbers.
● It is written as
C.MM × 10e
where C is the characteristic digit, M is the mantissa digit, and e
is the number of times the characteristic and mantissa digits is
multiplied by 10.
● The characteristic and mantissa digits comprise the coefficient.
It is any decimal number ≥1 but <10.
Learn about It!

What are Scientific Notation?

• a method for expressing a given

quantity as a number having
significant digits necessary for a
specified degree of accuracy

• It is always multiplied by 10 to the

appropriate power
 How wide is our universe?
Learn about It!

210,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 miles
(22 zeros)

When numbers get this large, it is easier to

write them in scientific notation.
 2.10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
Learn about It!

How many decimal places did you move the

decimal?
23
When the original number is more than 1, the
exponent is positive.
The answer in scientific notation is
2.1 x 1023
 Tips

● In dealing with significant figures, always be mindful of the

zeroes.
● To easily determine if a zero is significant or not, draw a line
following the direction of the arrows below for the whole
number and decimal numbers until you reach the first non-
zero digit. Count the remaining digits to identify the number
of significant figures.
 Tips

● In writing scientific notation, try drawing arrows to help you

count how many places the decimal point must be moved.
Numbers that are greater than 1 have a positive exponent
while numbers that are less than 1 have a negative
exponent.
 Try it!

A. Determine the number of significant figures in the following

numbers:
1. 0.0200
2. 511.102
3. 32000

B. Convert the following numbers to scientific notation.

1. 102000 m
2. 0.0000000278 g
3. 700000000000 s
Key Points

Measurement is the process of finding out how many

1 measuring units are contained in an event or object
based on a certain set of standards.

The seven fundamental quantities are length, mass,

2 time, temperature, amount of substance, electric
current, and luminous intensity.
Key Points

All digits that you are sure of and the one uncertain digit
3 are called significant figures.

A more convenient and systematic way of writing very

4 large or very small numbers is the scientific notation.
 Check Your Understanding

A. Determine the number of significant figures in the following

numbers:
1. 0.0200
2. 511.102
3. 32000

B. Convert the following numbers to scientific notation. Round

off to three significant figures.
1. 10 200 m
2. 0.000000027821 g
 Bibliography

Mendoza, E. 2003. Chemistry. Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.

Padolina, M.C.D., Simon-Antero, E. and Alumaga, M.J.B. 2010. Conceptual and Functional Chemistry (2 nd
ed.). Quezon City: Vibal Publishing House, Inc.

Religioso, T.F. and Vengco, L.G. 2011. You and the Natural World Integrated Science (3 rd ed.). Quezon City:
Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.

Khan Academy. “The Scientific Method.” Accessed April 2, 2017.

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/intro-to-biology/science-of-biology/a/the-science-of-
biology

University of Rochester. “Appendix E: Introduction to the Scientific Method.” Accessed April 2, 2017.
http://teacher.nsrl.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html#Heading6