Student problems using their calculators for scientific notation Abstract Graphing calculators are needed for math classes in New York State REF1 and the TI83 and TI 84 models are highly recommended Students also tend to use these calculators in NYS Regents physics class REF2 but have difficulties when using them for calculations involving scientific notation Acknowledgements This web page addressed requirements for PHY690 Masters Project at SUNY Buffalo State College Dr Dan MacIsaac contributed considerably to this work The address for this web page is http physicsed buffalostate edu pubs PHY690 Doty2005Calculator Calculator html One of the skills that I thought that my students would have is full use of the TI 83 calculators REF3 Although all of my students could do simple calculations I have observed many of them have trouble with the TI 83 calculators when using them for calculations involving scientific notation While grading the June 2005 NYS Regents physics exam I found that twenty percent of my students were missing question 71 The alpha line in the Balmer series of the hydrogen spectrum consists of light having a wavelength of 6 56 10 7 meter 71 Calculate the frequency of this light Show all work including the equation and substitution with units 2 REF2 3 10 8 m s c The correct answer to this problem is f 4 57 1014 Hz 7 6 56 10 m However many of my students were simply answering f 4 57 Hz I would have expected a few of my students to forget to check their calculator for an exponent but too many of them missed this question for such a simple explanation After trying a few different calculations I found that the problem was not with the physics but with students calculations on their calculators Most of my students are assigned a TI 83 Plus from the math department but I have since found out many of them do not know how to use them properly After polling my students this year 33 said that before taking physics they didn t know about the EE button or its use and only 42 said that they had ever been explicitly taught the use of the EE button on the calculator Of those that responded that they had been taught 80 gave credit to one math teacher in our district The rest that knew about the EE button responded that they had picked it up from other students or using other calculators When students do not know the proper use of the EE button they simply type scientific notation into the calculator as it looks on the page For the example from above some students will type in 3 x 10 8 6 56 x 10 7 Since the TI 83 Plus calculators do not follow standard order of operations rather they calculate from left to right so the calculation goes as follows 3 x 10 8 6 56 x 10 7 which will give the answer of 4 57 Hz As part of my master s project for Buffalo State College I have developed a web page that will help students to understand the importance of using the EE button The web page is divided into four major sections for using the calculators Directions for addition subtraction multiplication and division that explicitly describes the keystrokes for entering calculations with scientific notation Sample physics problems where scientific notation is commonly used such as gravitational force electrostatic force and calculations involving the speed of light Using parentheses for the correct orders of operation and the orders of operation that the TI 83 calculators follow By having my students review this web page and write a reflection including their prior knowledge I hope that my students will learn the correct way to use their calculators at the beginning of the year so that it does not become an issue later on By having students review this web site my goal is for them to be reminded of the correct use of the calculator learn the correct use or see me individually for instructions In a poll of my students this year many of my students mentioned that they probably lost points on tests or could not get the right answers on homework problems due to incorrect use of their calculator They all stated that an activity such as reading through this website would have helped at the beginning of the year to either remind them of the EE button or to teach them how to use this function on their calculator David Doty Dept of Physics SUNY Buffalo State College 1300 Elmwood Ave Buffalo NY 14222 REF1 http www emsc nysed gov ciai mst html REF2 http www emsc nysed gov ciai mst pub phycoresci pdf REF3 http www ticalc org basics calculators ti 83plus html REF4 http www nysedregents org testing scire regentphys html
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