Laboratory Math

Quick Refresher

Accuracy and Precision

When dealing with data in science we must
consider two factors:
Accuracy proximity to true value
Precision repeatability of measurements

Accuracy and Precision

When accuracy is low and precision is high,
we may question the protocol being
performed
When accuracy is high but precision is low,
we may question the experimenter or
equipment

Significant Figures
sigfigs indicate the accuracy of
measurement and are important when
dealing with instrumentation
Calculated results can only be reported to
the least accurate measurement (one with
fewest sigfigs)

Significant Figures
All non-zeros are significant (1-9)
Zeros between sigfigs are significant
Trailing zeros are significant if there is a
decimal point
Beginning zeros are not significant
placeholders
Trailing zeros are not significant if there is
no decimal point

Significant Figures

10.01
= 4 sigfigs
10.00
= 4 sigfigs
0.001
= 1 sigfig
1000 or 1000.
= 1 sigfig or 4 sigfig

Significant Figures
What is the correct answer to the problem?
2.000 x 0.500 x 2.0 x 1 = ?
2

Significant Figures in
Measurement

Significant Figures in
Measurement

Exponents
Exponents show the power a number is
raised to (the number of times it is multiplied
by itself)
23 (2 to the 3rd power) = 2 x 2 x2 = 8

Exponents
Negative exponents are the reciprocal of the
base multiplied by itself the number of times
indicated by the exponent
2-3 (2 to the -3rd power) = x x = 0.125

Exponents
Raising an exponent to a higher power
Multiply the two exponents

(32)4 = 38 or 256

Exponents
Any number raised to the 0 power = 1
90 = 1

Scientific Notation
We use scientific notation out of necessity
in science, as numbers tend to get very large
or small and would be difficult to deal with
on a regular basis
602200000000000000000000 = avogadros #

Scientific Notation
Chemists use avogadros number routinely
and you can imagine the difficulty
manipulating this very large number in its
long-hand version
6.022 x 1023 is a much more compact and
easily handled number

Scientific Notation
Sometimes numbers are very small
The thickness of a bacterial cell wall is
about 0.00000001 m
Express this in scientific notation
1 x 10-8 m

Scientific Notation
When working with numbers in scientific
notation, place the decimal after the first
sigfig (1-9)
In theory, you could place the decimal
anywhere as long as the exponent is
adjusted, but convention says after the 1 st
sigfig

Scientific Notation
Moving the decimal to the left (big #
smaller) have a positive exponent
13100
1.31 x104

Scientific Notation
Moving the decimal to the right (small #
bigger) have a negative exponent
0.00131
1.31 x 10-3

Scientific Notation
Multiplying in scientific notation add
exponents
(2 x 103) (3 x 102)
= 6 x 105
(5.5 x 10-3) (2.0 x 102)
= 11 x 10-1 or 1.1

Scientific Notation
Dividing in scientific notation subtract
exponents
(6 x 103) / (3 x 102)
= 2 x 101 or 20
(8.0 x 10-3) / (2.0 x 102)
= 4.0 x 10-5

SI System
Common standard units used in
biotechnology:
Gram (g) mass
Liter
(L) volume
Meter (m) length

SI System
Prefixes:
kilo
deci
centi
milli
micro
nano
pico

K
d
c
m
u
n
p

x 103
x 10-1
x 10-2
x 10-3
x 10-6
x 10-9
x 10-12

* angstrom (length)

x 10-10

SI System
Mass conversions: 25.0g
Convert to Kg
1 Kg = 103g (1000g)
So
25.0g x 1Kg/1000g = 0.0250 Kg
Correct?

SI System
Mass conversions:

55.0g

Convert to ug

1 ug = 10-6g (0.000001g)
55.0g x 1 ug / 0.000001g = 55000000 ug
Correct?
Check sigfigs!
5.50 x 107 ug

SI System
Volume conversion: 10.3 ul
Convert to ml

1 ul = 10-3 ml (0.001ml)
10.3ul x 0.001ml / 1ul = 0.0103 ml
Correct?

SI System
Volume conversion: 0.1250 ml
Convert to ul

1 ml = 103 ul (1000 ul)

0.1250 ml x 1000 ul / 1 ml = 125 ml
Correct?
125.0 ml

SI System
length conversion: 10.0 mm
Convert to um

1 mm = 103 um (1000 um)

10.0 mm x 1000 um / 1 mm = 10000 mm
Correct?
1.00 x 104

Thats All!
Practice the problems in your text, p.103,
ch 8.
If you still need help, feel free to schedule a
time with me to work on problems.
You will see this on quizzes and be
expected to use calculations in lab.