Hon Environmental Science
Sipe 2015-16
Name ___KEY_______________________Per _____
Date _____________
Basic Math Skills and Word Based Logic Problems
SGO #1 Practice Worksheet KEY
In Honors Environmental Science you will be required to do basic math calculations and be able
to solve word-based logic problems (aka story problems) for most of our units on labs and tests.
Sometimes the calculations will be easy enough to solve in your head, but you will be able to
use a calculator. However, you are required to SHOW ALL WORK (including units) in order to
receive full credit. This worksheet is designed to assess the range of math skills in the class.
No Calculators allowed
1. Write the following numbers in scientific notation: (2pts each/4pts total)
a. 465.2
4.652 x 102
b. 0.243
2.43 x 10-1
2. Convert the following to regular notation: (2pts each/4pts total)
a. 1.3 x 10-2
0.013
b. 5.4 x 103
5,400
3. Use scientific notation solve the following problems: (2pts each/6pts total)
a. (2.5 x 103)(2.0 x 10-7) = 5.0 x 10-4
b. (7.0 x 101) = 2.0 x 104
(3.5 x 10-3)
c. (5.5 x 103) - (5.0 x 102) = (5.5 x 103) – (0.5 x 103) = 5.0 x 103
Hon Environmental Science
Sipe 2015-16
Name ___KEY_______________________Per _____
Date _____________
4. Perform the following conversions: (2-4pts each/11pts total)
a. 543 cm to m (2pts)
543cm(1m/100cm) = 5.43m
b. 723 g/L to kg/L (2pts)
723g/L(1kg/1000g) = 0.723kg/L OR 7.23 x 10-1kg/L
c. The area of a football field is approximately 5500 m2. What is the area in square
kilometers? (3pts)
5500m2[(1) 2km2/(1000) 2m2] = 5500/1,000,000 km2 = 0.0055km2 OR 5.5 x 10-3km2
d. (4pts)
5. Perform the following calculations (3-4 pts each/15pts total)
a. For a state with 8% sales tax, what tax is charged for a $300.00 window unit air
conditioner? (3pts)
$300.00(8/100) = $24.00
b. A substance weighs 80 g. Every 5 minutes, half of the substance evaporates. What
percent of the original substance is left after 10 minutes? (4pts)
80g 40g  20g 10g
1
2
3
20g after 10 min So, 20/80 = 25%
c. Approximately 6 million people in the U.S. are over age 80. What percentage of the
U.S. population (300 million) is this? (4pts)
6,000,000/300,000,000 = 6/300 = 2/100 = 2%
d. If a population of 50,000 people has a net growth rate of 35 people per 1000, what is
the percent growth? (4pts)
35 net people/1000 = 3.5/100 = 3.5% growth
ASSESSMENT SCORING:
1 = 0 to 16 pts
2 = 16.5 to 24 pts
3 = 24.5 to 32 pts
4 = 32.5 to 40 pts