Math on DAT without a calculator

[577455]

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Hey guys,


On the science portion I know we aren't allowed a calculator. I'm reviewing General Chemistry right now and I've heard the questions on Chad's quizzes are very similar. I suck at math. Chad always suggests estimating the answers because we don't have a calculator. The problem I'm having with this is that I suck at math so much that I can't even estimate the answers. I've always had a calculator.

I can't do problems like (1x10^-3)*(3.3x10-2)/(.9) in my head. I can't even guesstimate.

I have heard that we won't see problems like this on the DAT.

Any advice?

 

[Lnguyen7]

There's many ways to deal with this.

Always simplify the expression
Do the exponent
(1x10^-3)*(3.3x10-2)/(.9) = (1x3.3/0.9)(10^-3*10^-2) = (1x3.3/0.9)10^-5

Multiply the denominator and numerator by 10 to get rid of the decimal if possible
(1x3.3/0.9)10^-5 = (33/9)10^-5 = (11/3)10^-5 ≈ 3.67x10^-5 = 0.0000367

 

[shallsen]

There's many ways to deal with this.

Always simplify the expression
Do the exponent
(1x10^-3)*(3.3x10-2)/(.9) = (1x3.3/0.9)(10^-3*10^-2) = (1x3.3/0.9)10^-5

Multiply the denominator and numerator by 10 to get rid of the decimal if possible
(1x3.3/0.9)10^-5 = (33/9)10^-5 = (11/3)10^-5 ≈ 3.67x10^-5 = 0.0000367

Yup, you just need to figure out ways to rearrange and find equivalent expressions that make the math easier, sort of like a trig identity