General chem calculations

[denticle]

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How difficult are the gen chem calculations on the actual DAT? I'm doing some practice tests and finding it really hard to do the math in my head without a calculator. In particular I'm finding dividing / multiplying decimals really time consuming. I took the DAT once already but don't remember how Chemistry was formated. Are there questions that require you to divide these really large/ small numbers?

 

[Ari Rezaei]

There are a lot less calculations and they are much less complex than you are seeing on your practice exams. That isn't to say you should be prepared for those types of problems. You will have to divide tiny decimals, but it is very easy. Try what Chad says.

Make the decimals into scientific notation, then do as you need. Often it turns into 4e-5/2e-3 which comes out to 2e-2.

 

[denticle]

thanks!

 

[Toothshucker]

I didn't have any questions with complex calculations. The calculations I actually had were all whole numbers or easy decimals (.1, .5, .75, etc). Almost every single potential calculation problem wasn't actually one; The 5 answer choices would be different ways to set up the calculation:

A. (5)(.75)/n(10)(.1)
B. (5)(10)/n(.75)(.1)
C. n(10)(.75)/ (5)(.75)
D......
E....

Only once or twice if that, did I have to do math, but they were always whole numbers and easy decimals.