the lensmakers equation

[mcgill2012]

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does this come up frequently in the mcat?
how do you know if you have to use it, and what is the convention for determining the sign on the radii?

 

[dextor2003]

i havent taken the mcat or many practice tests yet, but EK said that you dont have to know it. if it comes up, it'll be explained in a passage

 

[methylethyl88]

i had a discrete question on one of my practice exams that required the use of it.

 

[mcgill2012]

i am really confused about the sign conventions for the radii of curvature in this equation.. can anyone clarify?

 

[mcgill2012]

is it true that for a diverging lens, R1 is negative and R2 is positive, whereas for a converging lens, R1 is positive and R2 is negative?