Adding and Subtracting Scientific Notation

Front

What is scientific notation?

Back

A way of expressing numbers that are too large or too small to be conveniently written in decimal form, using powers of ten.

Front

How do you add numbers in scientific notation with the same exponent?

Back

Add the coefficients and keep the exponent the same. For example, (2.5 x 10^3) + (3.0 x 10^3) = (2.5 + 3.0) x 10^3 = 5.5 x 10^3.

Front

How do you add numbers in scientific notation with different exponents?

Back

Convert one number to have the same exponent as the other, then add the coefficients. For example, (4.1 x 10^5) + (5.5 x 10^6) becomes (4.1 x 10^5) + (55 x 10^5) = 59.1 x 10^5 = 5.91 x 10^6.

Front

How do you subtract numbers in scientific notation with the same exponent?

Back

Subtract the coefficients and keep the exponent the same. For example, (5.0 x 10^4) - (2.0 x 10^4) = (5.0 - 2.0) x 10^4 = 3.0 x 10^4.

Front

How do you subtract numbers in scientific notation with different exponents?

Back

Convert one number to have the same exponent as the other, then subtract the coefficients. For example, (5.0 x 10^8) - (3.4 x 10^8) = (5.0 - 3.4) x 10^8 = 1.6 x 10^8.

Front

What is the largest number among 4.8 x 10^-6, 1.3 x 10^20, and 9.5 x 10^32?

Back

9.5 x 10^32 is the largest because it has the highest exponent.

Front

What is the process to convert a number to scientific notation?

Back

Move the decimal point in the number until only one non-zero digit remains to the left of the decimal point, then count the number of places moved to determine the exponent.

Front

What is the significance of the exponent in scientific notation?

Back

The exponent indicates the power of ten by which the coefficient is multiplied, determining the scale of the number.

Front

How do you compare two numbers in scientific notation?

Back

Compare the exponents first; the number with the larger exponent is greater. If the exponents are the same, compare the coefficients.

Front

What is the result of (2.3 x 10^2) + (4.1 x 10^2)?

Back

6.4 x 10^2.