Description
Why it is important to understand: Revision of fractions, decimals and percentages
Engineers use fractions all the time, examples including stress to strain ratios in mechanical engineering, chemical concentration ratios and reaction rates, and ratios in electrical equations to solve for current and voltage. Fractions are also used everywhere in science, from radioactive decay rates to statistical analysis. Also, engineers and scientists use decimal numbers all the time in calculations. Calculators are able to handle calculations with fractions and decimals; however, there will be times when a quick calculation involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions and decimals is needed. Engineers and scientists also use percentages a lot in calculations; for example, percentage change is commonly used in engineering, statistics, physics, finance, chemistry, and economics. When you feel able to do calculations with basic arithmetic, fractions, decimals and percentages, with or without the aid of a calculator, then suddenly mathematics doesn’t seem quite so difficult.