Exponents and Scientific Notation

Learning Objectives In this section, you will: Mathematicians, scientists, and economists commonly encounter very large and very small numbers. But it may not be obvious how common such figures are in everyday life. For instance, a pixel is the smallest…

Real Numbers: Algebra Essentials

Learning Objectives In this section, you will: It is often said that mathematics is the language of science. If this is true, then an essential part of the language of mathematics is numbers. The earliest use of numbers occurred 100…

Introduction to Prerequisites

Credit: Andreas Kambanls Chapter Outline 1.1 Real Numbers: Algebra Essentials 1.2 Exponents and Scientific Notation 1.3 Radicals and Rational Exponents 1.4 Polynomials 1.5 Factoring Polynomials 1.6 Rational Expressions It’s a cold day in Antarctica. In fact, it’s always a cold day in Antarctica. Earth’s southernmost continent,…

What is pus?

Pus is a thick, whitish-yellow fluid that oozes from a wound because white blood cells, bacteria, and dead skin cells have accumulated there. Eventually the white blood cells eat up all the bacteria and dead skin cells, and the pus clears up on…

Why do scabs form?

As soon as you scrape or break the skin anywhere on your body, special blood cells called platelets get to work. Platelets stick together like glue at the cut site, forming a clot. This clot is like a protective bandage over your cut…

What causes a bruise?

A bruise is a common skin injury that causes discoloration of the skin, usually yellowish, brownish, or purplish spots. Blood from damaged blood vessels deep beneath the skin collects near the skin’s surface, resulting in a “black and blue” mark. You can get a bruise by…

How do people breathe in and out?

You usually don’t have to think much about your breathing because your brain controls it automatically. When you have a lot of carbon dioxide—the waste gas produced by body processes—in your blood, your brain gets the message and tells your lungs to exhale and dispose of it.…