Scientific Prefixes, Roots & Suffixes

Scientific Prefixes, Roots & Suffixes

bio-

life

biosphere, biography

geo-

land, earth

biogeochemical, geologist

-logy or -ology

study of

biology, ecology

chloro

green

chlorophyll, chloroplast

zoo

animalzoology, zooplankton

cyte or cyto

cell

cytoplasm, cytology

mono- or uni-

one or single

monotone, monopoly

di-

two

dissect, diameter

poly- or multi-

many

polygon, polygamy

-saccharide

sugar

monosaccharide, disaccharide,

polysaccharide

carni-

meat

carnivore

herb-

plant

herbicide, herbarium

omni-

all

omnipotent

-vore

eater

carnivore, omnivore, herbivore

auto-

self

autopilot, autograph

homeo- or homo-

same

homeostasis, homogenous

hetero-

different

heterogeneous, heterozygote

troph

food or feeding

heterotroph, autotroph

eco-

dwelling

ecology, eco-friendly

a- or an-

without

asexual, abiotic

hydro-

water

hydroelectric, hydroplane

-ase

forms names of enzymes

lactase, DNA polymerase

-ose

forms names of sugars

lactose, glucose, fructose

iso-

equal, same

isosceles triangle

photo-

light

photograph, photosynthesis

-ous

full of

aqueous, curvaceous

en-, endo-, ent-

Inner, within

endoskeleton,

endotherm

ecto-

outside of

ectotherm

hyper-

above, beyond

hyperactive, hyperextend

hypo-

under, less

hypothermia, hypoallergenic

som-, somat-, -some

body

somatic, lysosome

micro-

small

microscope, microbe

macro-

large

macroevolution

-philic

loving

hydrophilic

-phobic

strong dislike

hydrophobic

pro

before, in front of

prophase, procambian

Eu-

true

eukaryote

Scientific Notation

The Distance From the Sun to the Earth

93,000,000 milesWhen numbers get this large, it is easier to write

them in scientific notation.

Why use scientific notation?

• For very large and very small numbers, these numbers can be converted into scientific notation to express them in a more concise form.

• Numbers expressed in scientific notation can be used in a computation with far greater ease.

Scientific notation consists of two parts:

• A number between 1 and 10 (coefficient)

• A power of 10

N x 10x

To change standard form(real) to scientific notation…

• Place decimal point so that there is one non-zero digit to the left of the decimal point.

• Count the number of decimal places the decimal point has “moved” from the original number. This will be the exponent on the 10.

• Exponent is negative when moved to the right.

Try It!

Write 124 in scientific notation. 

1. First write "1.24". This is not the same number, but (1.24)(100) = 124 is, and

2. 100 = 102. Then, in scientific notation, 124 is written as 1.24 × 102

Example 1

• Given: 289,800,000• Use: 2.898 (moved 8 places)• Answer: 2.898 x 108

Example 2

• Given: 0.000567• Use: 5.67 (moved 4 places)• Answer: 5.67 x 10-4

To change scientific notation to standard form…

• Simply move the decimal point to the right for positive exponent 10.

• Move the decimal point to the left for negative exponent 10.

(Use zeros to fill in places.)

Try It!• Write in standard notation:  3.6 × 1012

• Since the exponent on 10 is positive, move the decimal point to the right, in order to make the number LARGER.

• Since the exponent on 10 is "12", first move the decimal point twelve places over. Make little loops when you count off the places, to keep track:

• Then fill in the loops with zeroes   • The number is 3,600,000,000,000, or 3.6 trillion

Example 3

• Given: 5.093 x 106

• Answer: 5,093,000 (moved 6 places to the right)

Example 4

• Given: 1.976 x 10-4

• Answer: 0.0001976 (moved 4 places to the left)