Science
How to Use Google for Simple Arithmetic Operations and Unit Conversions
Do you know that you don’t really need a calculator for simple arithmetic operations and (selected) unit conversions? You can do the four basic operations comfortably by typing it directly into Google Search Window: You can do square roots and exponents as well: You can use Google for some simple unit and currency conversions as…
Read MoreThe Built-In Limit to Rounding Off Numbers
Is there a limit to rounding off numbers? Yes there is. The digits after the decimal point reflects the degree of uncertainty we have inherent in the measurement (and thus in the number) itself. For example, 10.7 is less exact, less accurate, than 10.743. Thus we can say that we are “more sure” about 10.743;…
Read More"Convenience" is the Main Reason Why We Round Off Numbers
© 2010 Ugur Akinci We technical communicators deal with numbers all day long. We write them, calculate them, interpret them. We also round them off. “What’s the best way to round off numbers?” a reader asked. And I did some thinking about it because I realized I haven’t given it enough thought in the past.…
Read MoreFinding Your Way Back: Re-Entering the Science Work Force
(Excerpts) By Brianna Blaser In the idealized career path, a scientist goes straight from earning an undergraduate degree to graduate school, and then on to a postdoc and eventual employment, without breaks between positions. For various reasons, however, not all scientists’ career paths are nearly so linear. Although the most common reason scientists might leave…
Read MoreWhat is "Cloud Computing"?
© 2009 Ugur Akinci Technical communicators need to stay abreast of developments in the IT field. “Cloud Computing” is one such development that’s taking the world by storm right now. It’s the way commercial giants like Google, eBay, and Amazon are handling their data and juggling their enormous system loads. Cloud computing is an example…
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