Science/Math Cheat Sheet
Rules for Measurements, Diagrams and Calculations
With rulers or meter sticks 1.
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Always use metric units (most often centimeters ) for measurement – No inches unless instructed!
 Write all measurements as a decimal such – no fractions!
Make sure you start at the zero point of the ruler – not all rulers begin at the end!
Use the appropriate number of significant digits or decimals.
 If you are measuring a pencil, do so to the nearest 0.1 of a centimeter – 9.2 cm or 6.0 cm
 For the length of a room, you would do so to the nearest whole cm. You might also convert to meters.
857 cm = to 8.57 meters!
For balance scales – you are measuring mass!
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Always carry with two hands under the base- do not hold by the beams or post!
Before making any measurements “zero” it out with riders set at zero and the adjustment knob!
When measuring powders or liquids always use a container/paper even if it has a pan with a lip.
Write all measurement as decimals such as 5.8 g or 6.0 g if it’s exactly 6 g.
Drawing Diagrams
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DTL means Draw, title and label!
Title on Top and underlined – Don’t use “title” as the title. Tell me what it is.
Diagrams at least the size of an Ipod unless instructed to draw to scale.
Keep it simple – two dimensional often works unless you are just drawing a block or cube
Label all measurements such as diameter, length and height. Diameter = 7.8 cm!
Label parts or things within the diagram to help the reader see what it is – the doorknob on a door!
Label diagram with results of any calculations. Area = 456 cm2.
DTL and C means draw, title, label and color. Use coloring pencils not markers!
Calculations and calculators – Yes, science includes math and showing your work is key!
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If a formula or equation is used draw a T-chart or two-column one-row box chart
DTL a diagram on the right side.
Write the formula or equation without the measurements on the left side of a T-chart
Rewrite the formula directly underneath with the substituted measurements and units
Show your math on the right side of the T-Chart – even if it’s mad simple!
If using a calculator – and in doing labs you will need often need to.
 Show the setup – 3.8 cm divided by 5.6 cm should look like this.
 Then use the calculator and write the answer on top
 Round answers to the number with the least number of decimal places.
If you divide 3.3 by 5.678 your answer should be rounded to one decimal place.
0.58119056
5.678 3.3
Answer is 0.6 because 3.3 has only one
decimal place!
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Science /Math Format
Problem – What is the volume of a block that measures 4.5 cm on a side?
Formula work
calculations and diagram
4.5 cm
4.5 cm
Volume = base x width x height
Volume = 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm
4.5 cm
V= 91.1 cm3
3
Volume = 91.1 cm
(Round answer to 91.1 cm3 because your measurements
have only one decimal place). If you multiplied 3.2 x 5.213,
your answer is 16.7 because your least accurate
measurement has only one decimal place.
4.5 cm x 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm = 91.125 cm3
(Show the setup of your work and then use a calculator.)
Figure this -- If cm x cm = cm2 (you calculated area),
Then cm x cm x cm = cm? (You calculated______?_____)