Math Preparation for CHM1046
Assignment(s):
- Read this page on Using Your Calculator.
- Buy an inexpensive scientific calculator like the TI-30/36 series, Casio FX-115 or equivalent.
- Watch a video(s) on How to Use the Most Popular Calculators by Alan Earhart from the list below.
- Doc Link: Complete this worksheet on using your calculator!
Calculators, Word Problems & Graphing
Preparation for Chemistry
* To learn about any of the following topics just press “click” to follow the link *
Using Your Calculator
It is essential to own (and know how to use!) a scientific calculator when taking any physical science class – including chemistry. While any scientific calculator will suffice for a general chemistry course, many students own a graphing calculator, usually because it was required in a math course.
It is my observation that many students own very powerful calculators but do not know how to properly use them, and therefor they use their calculators for only the most basic functions, for which a $10 - $20 scientific calculator would suffice. These inexpensive calculators can be purchased from retailers like Target, Wal-Mart, Office Depot, Staples, CVS, Walgreens, or even Publix.
Most graphing calculators, and a few non-graphing models have a “solve” function which is very powerful and often underutilized. The “Solver” feature can be used to solve almost any chemistry formula from something simple like density, or something more complex like rates and equilibrium expressions.
Remember to bring your scientific calculator to class EVERY day!
Calculator Help – How to Use the Most Popular Calculators
These videos by Alan Earhart of Southeast Community College:
Scientific Notation and the TI-30XA Calculator
Scientific Notation and the TI-30XS MultiView Calculator
Scientific Notation and the TI-30XIIS Calculator
Scientific Notation and the TI-34 MultiView Calculator
Scientific Notation and the TI-84 Plus Calculator
Scientific Notation and the Casio fx-300MS Calculator
Scientific Notation and the Sharp EL-W516 WriteView Calculator
Math Review – Math you’ll need to know to survive chemistry
Purplemath – algebra lessons “… written with the student in mind.”
Beginning Algebra – the basics…
Metric Units
Cancelling/Converting Units
Converting Between Decimals, Fractions, and Percents
Rounding
Significant Digits (i.e. Significant Figures or "Sig Figs")
Sig Figs and Addition & Subtraction or Multiplication & Division
Exponents – what are they and how to use them...
Exponents: Basic Rules
Negative Exponents
Scientific Notation
Graphing – “A picture is worth a thousand words”...
Graphing Overview
Introduction to the x,y-Plane (The "Cartesian" Plane)
Slope of a Straight Line
Using Slope and y-Intercept to Graph Lines
The Meaning of Slope and y-Intercept in the Context of Word Problems
Straight-line equations (y = mx + b): Forms of linear equations
Solving Word Problems – Yes, there will be lots of these in chemistry...
Translation: How to translate word problems from English into mathematical equations
"Mixture" Word Problems
Basic "Percent of" Word Problems
Just because and other Stuff – self-explanatory...
Homework Guidelines for Mathematics [or Chemistry as well!]
Greek Letters and Their Names
How do I compute my grade?
How do I compute my (weighted) grade?
Mean, Median, Mode, and Range
Why Do I Have to Take Algebra?
Formatting Math as Text
Using Your Calculator
It is essential to own (and know how to use!) a scientific calculator when taking any physical science class – including chemistry. While any scientific calculator will suffice for a general chemistry course, many students own a graphing calculator, usually because it was required in a math course.
It is my observation that many students own very powerful calculators but do not know how to properly use them, and therefor they use their calculators for only the most basic functions, for which a $10 - $20 scientific calculator would suffice. These inexpensive calculators can be purchased from retailers like Target, Wal-Mart, Office Depot, Staples, CVS, Walgreens, or even Publix.
Most graphing calculators, and a few non-graphing models have a “solve” function which is very powerful and often underutilized. The “Solver” feature can be used to solve almost any chemistry formula from something simple like density, or something more complex like rates and equilibrium expressions.
Remember to bring your scientific calculator to class EVERY day!
Calculator Help – How to Use the Most Popular Calculators
These videos by Alan Earhart of Southeast Community College:
Scientific Notation and the TI-30XA Calculator
Scientific Notation and the TI-30XS MultiView Calculator
Scientific Notation and the TI-30XIIS Calculator
Scientific Notation and the TI-34 MultiView Calculator
Scientific Notation and the TI-84 Plus Calculator
Scientific Notation and the Casio fx-300MS Calculator
Scientific Notation and the Sharp EL-W516 WriteView Calculator
Math Review – Math you’ll need to know to survive chemistry
Purplemath – algebra lessons “… written with the student in mind.”
Beginning Algebra – the basics…
Metric Units
Cancelling/Converting Units
Converting Between Decimals, Fractions, and Percents
Rounding
Significant Digits (i.e. Significant Figures or "Sig Figs")
Sig Figs and Addition & Subtraction or Multiplication & Division
Exponents – what are they and how to use them...
Exponents: Basic Rules
Negative Exponents
Scientific Notation
Graphing – “A picture is worth a thousand words”...
Graphing Overview
Introduction to the x,y-Plane (The "Cartesian" Plane)
Slope of a Straight Line
Using Slope and y-Intercept to Graph Lines
The Meaning of Slope and y-Intercept in the Context of Word Problems
Straight-line equations (y = mx + b): Forms of linear equations
Solving Word Problems – Yes, there will be lots of these in chemistry...
Translation: How to translate word problems from English into mathematical equations
"Mixture" Word Problems
Basic "Percent of" Word Problems
Just because and other Stuff – self-explanatory...
Homework Guidelines for Mathematics [or Chemistry as well!]
Greek Letters and Their Names
How do I compute my grade?
How do I compute my (weighted) grade?
Mean, Median, Mode, and Range
Why Do I Have to Take Algebra?
Formatting Math as Text