Algebraic operations:

 

• Adding & Subtracting with significant figures:
  1. Perform the calculation
  2. Determine the least # of decimal places in problem
  3. Round answer to that # of decimal places
• Multiplying & Dividing with significant figures:
  1. Perform the calculation
  2. Determine the least # of sig figures in problem
  3. Round answer to that # of sig figures
• Scientific Notation—a short hand method of writing numbers using powers of 10.
• Writing scientific notation:
  1. The decimal point is always moved to after the 1st non-zero number.
  2. Count the number of times the decimal point is moved and use this as the power of 10.
  3. “Big” numbers (>1) have positive exponents.  “Small” numbers (<1) have negative exponents.
• Trigonometry review:
  Trig functions are often used to find resultants and components.  The most useful
  relationships are:

               

• Quadratic formula:
  The quadratic formula is sometimes useful for squared functions:
  
  
• Graphing:
  Data is often graphed in physics.  Theses relationships are often analyzed to fit mathematical models.