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/sci/ - Science & Math

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5536383 No.5536383 [Reply] [Original]

This might be the most stupid question of the year, but I can't for the life of me figure it out. Consider the attached image, what does the "-1" in "mL^-1" mean exactly?

>> No.5536389

"per milliliter"

>> No.5536392

mL to the power of -1 would be 1/10 mL

>> No.5536401

1/2.5e5 ml or alternatively 2.5e-5 ml

Where e is *10^n, just like in your calculator.

>> No.5536402

>>5536392
no, it wouldn't.

>> No.5536422

>>5536389
>>5536392
>>5536402

So what is correct? 2,5*10^5 is the number of cells per mL^-1

>> No.5536424

>>5536402
what are you, 12?

>> No.5536437

>>5536392
If this is the case it would make my calculations a tad more correct. But why not write it as 2,5*10^6 mL ??

>> No.5536440

>IN <span class="math">x^{-1}[/spoiler] WHAT DOES <span class="math">-1[/spoiler] MEAN???
really?
you can't algebra?

>> No.5536446

>>5536422
>>5536424
it's dimensional analysis, have neither of you ever taken a science course before?
it is not "the number of cells per mL^-1"
it is number of cells ml^-1. "per mL" is the same as mL^-1. As in how acceleration is ms^-2 and is read as "meters per second per second". the units for your number are <span class="math"> \frac{cells}{mL} [/spoiler] meaning if you multiply by a number with mL as dimensions you get a number with only cells as a dimension. the dimensions never affect the numbers themselves.

>> No.5536450

>>5536383
It means per mL or 1/mL or however you want to say it. There are Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Things per Milliliter of Other Thing.

>> No.5536458
File: 452 KB, 200x153, 1333614066335.gif [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
5536458

>>5536446
>>5536450

Thanks!

>> No.5536457

>>5536446
that's exactly what it means