Numbers of any magnitude

This lesson comprises one (1) master class focusing on:

• Expressing numbers in scientific notation
• Estimating and rounding numbers
• Finding absolute and percentage errors in measurements

Content:

MA5-MAG-C-01

Identify and describe very small and very large measurements

• Identify and describe the meaning of common prefixes, such as milli, centi and kilo
• Establish the meaning of prefixes for very small or very large measurement units

Find absolute and percentage error

• Determine the precision of a measuring instrument by finding the smallest division on the instrument
• Find the absolute error of measuring instruments \( (absolute\ error=\frac{1}{2} \times precision) \)
• Calculate the percentage error of a given measurement by applying the formula: \( percentage\ error=\frac{absolute\ error}{measurement} \times 100% \)

Estimate and round numbers to a specified degree of accuracy

• Apply the language of estimation appropriately, including the terms rounding, approximate and level of accuracy
• Round numbers to a specified number of significant figures
• Examine the effect that truncating or rounding during calculations has on the accuracy of the results

Express numbers in scientific notation

• Recognise the need for notation to express very large or very small numbers
• Represent numbers using scientific notation in practical contexts
• Order numbers expressed in scientific notation
• Represent numbers expressed in scientific notation as a decimal
• Estimate the value of calculations involving scientific notation by applying knowledge of index laws
• Solve problems with calculations involving scientific notation using digital tools