The Language of Mathematics

1. The Language of Mathematics Math is like any other language, you must first know the vocabulary to understand it!

2. The Language of Math • First let’s start with some easy vocab: • Sum- Add em’ up • Difference-Subtract em’ up • Product-Mulitplyem’ up • Quotient-Divide em’ up • So whenever you see these words, it means that the problem wants you to perform these mathematical operations!

3. The Language of Math • Now, let’s go over some less common math terms that you are likely to see during the semester: • Mean- Average (add up all the #’s and divide by the number of #’s) • e.g. What is the mean of 2,4,6,8 and 10? • Denominator-bottom part of a fraction • What is the denominator of two-thirds? • Numerator-top part of a fraction • What is the numerator of two-thirds?

4. The Language of Math • Fractions-give you a quotient! They are simply division and are nothing to be afraid of! • What is the quotient of 2/3? • Per-divide; per is simply another way of saying “divided by” • e.g in this classroom there are 2 girls per 3 boys. • Ratio-quotient; a ratio is simply one number divided by another number. • If there are 2 girls per 3 boys, what is the ratio of girls to boys?

5. The Language of Math • Formula-is a means of calculating a result. • KE=1/2 mv2 • Measurement-a way to give a physical property a number. • Your height is a measurement of your how tall you are Power-assigning an exponent • 2 to the third power means 23 • Reciprocal-a fraction flipped upside-down • The reciprocal of ½ is 2/1 or just 2

6. The Language of Math • Often is mathematical problems, words are denoted by symbols! • D=Delta, which means “a change in something” • (=open parentheses • )=close parentheses • /=per (is most commonly said per) • = is usually said “is equal to” • ~ means “about”or approximately • ^(is pronounced “carrot”) simply means to the __ power

7. Scientific Notation • DO NOT BE AFRAID OF SCIENTIFIC NOTATION • Scientific notation is simply a way of expressing exponents. • 1,000,000,000 is a 1 with how many zeroes after it? • 9, right? • So in scientific notation, this is written as 1 x 10^9 • So what number is 1 x 10^-9? • Think of scientific notation as a bunny hopping….

8. Metric Measurements • In physics, as in all other sciences, we use the SI system of measurement! • This is to be sure that all scientists use the exact same way to measure things. • In the SI system: • Length-is measures in meters (m) • Mass (NOT weight)- is measured in grams (g) • Time- is measured in seconds (s) • Volume-is measured in liters (l)

9. Metric Checkup • What instruments are used to measure length? • What instruments are used to measure time? • What instruments are used to measure mass? • What instruments are used to measure volume? • What instruments are used to measure temperature?

10. Things to ALWAYS REMEMBER • Yes, this means WRITE THEM DOWN!! • PEMDAS-Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally • Parentheses • Exponents • Multiply • Divide • Add • Subtract • These are the order of operations for all mathematical (and physics) problems.

11. Things to ALWAYS REMEMBER • King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk • Kilo = 1000 x (base unit) • Hecto = 100 x (base unit) • Deka = 10 x (base unit) • Base Unit = 1 x (base unit) • Deci = .1 x (base unit) • Centi = .01 x (base unit) • Milli = .001 x (base unit)

12. Things to ALWAYS REMEMBER • THE GOLDEN RULE OF MATHEMATICS: • WHAT THOU DOEST TO ONE SIDE OF THE EQUATION, THOU MUST ALSO DO TO THE OTHER!!!!!! • This is perhaps the single most important thing to remember in physics as physics is very math based!

13. Solve this equation for G • F = G x (m1 x m2) d2 • F x d2= G x (m1 x m2) • F x d2 = G (m1 x m2) • Given the mass of two objects (measured in _____) the force of attraction of those two object (F) and the distance between them (d), can you now figure out G? • Guess what…. You just solved the equation for GRAVITY!