Basic mathematical skills algebra

This section is a review of basic mathematical skills. For success on the GRE, it is important to master these skills. Because the GRE measures your ability to reason rather than calculate, most of this section is devoted to concepts rather than arithmetic drills. Be sure to review all the topics before moving on to the algebra section. 

Only a few basic mathematical skills are required for the study of general chemistry. But to concentrate your attention on the concepts of chemistry, you will find it necessary to have a firm grasp of these basic mathematical skills. In this appendix, we will review scientific (or exponential) notation, logarithms, simple algebraic operations, the solution of quadratic equations, and the plotting of straight-line graphs. 

The book has been written in such a way that the mathematical skills required to understand the arguments are reduced to a minimum. Although, the algebra is occasionally lengthy, the contents of this book will be easily understood by undergraduate scientists who have taken basic courses in algebra and calculus. 

Chemistry and physics are both very logical sciences, but both depend on math to translate concepts into application. Unfortunately, many students who struggle in these disciplines have more trouble with the mathematics than with the scientific concepts. Therefore, let us begin our exploration of chemistry and physics with a review of some basic math skills and concepts that you will use throughout this course. While this chapter reviews basic math skills, it cannot replace a basic understanding of college-level algebra. 

Basic math and algebra skills. Chemistry requires calculations and the manipulation of mathematical equations to solve problems. Review your algebra skills before starting the chemistry lessons and you will find that chemistry will be easier to comprehend. 

This book is designed to help you leam the fundamentals of chemistry. To be successful, you must master the concepts of chemistry and acquire the mathematical skills necessary to solve problems in this quantitative science. If your algebra is rusty, you should polish it up. Appendix 1 reviews the algebra used in basic chemistry and also shows how to avoid mistakes while solving chemistry problems with your scientific calculator. The factor label method is introduced in Chapter 2 to show you how to use units to help with problem solutions. You can help yourself by using the standard symbols and abbreviations for various quantities (such as m for mass, m for meter, mol for moles, and M for molarity). Always use the proper units with your numerical answers it makes a big difference whether your roommate s pet is 6 inches long or 6 feet long ... 

Science, mathematics, and technology are interconnected. Teaching Chemistry incorporates the other sciences as well as other disciplines, such as mathematics. For example, graphs and charts are frequently used to record and analyze data. On a daily basis, we are surrounded with mathematics in the ability to make various measurements of mass and size, in the conversions betweens the numerous units, and in tabulating amounts of materials. Beyond these basic skills, mathematical and algebraic skills are used in a plethora of chemical calculations from determining the percent composition of elements in a compound to estimating the mass of reactants needed in a reaction. 

The knowledge and use of basic mathematical concepts and skills is a necessary aspect of scientific study. Science depends on data and the manipulation of data requires knowledge of mathematics. Scientists often use basic algebra to solve scientific problems and design experiments. For example, the substitution of variables is a common strategy in experiment design. Also, the ability to determine the equation of a curve is valuable in data manipulation, experimentation, and prediction. 

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