Answer:
WHY: You can abbreviate an element's electron configuration using the noble gas notation method because when you get down to the lower elements, specifically the d's and the f's, the electron configuration will be very long. The noble gas notation method is a faster answer while also being correct.
HOW: We can abbreviate an element's electron configuration by finding the last noble gas a specific element passed, for example calcium would have just passed Argon. Once you have the "address" of the previous noble gas, then you add on the difference between the element chosen and the noble gas, for example calcium would be [Ar] 4s^2.
Step-by-step explanation: