Scientific Notation

Front

What is scientific notation?

Back

A way to express very large or very small numbers using powers of ten. It is written in the form a × 10^n, where 1 ≤ a < 10 and n is an integer.

Front

How do you convert a large number to scientific notation?

Back

1. Move the decimal point to the left until only one non-zero digit remains on the left. 2. Count the number of places you moved the decimal point; this becomes the exponent (n) in 10^n. 3. Write the number as a × 10^n.

Front

Convert 430,000 to scientific notation.

Back

4.3 × 10^5

Front

How do you convert a small number to scientific notation?

Back

1. Move the decimal point to the right until only one non-zero digit remains on the left. 2. Count the number of places you moved the decimal point; this becomes a negative exponent (n) in 10^n. 3. Write the number as a × 10^n.

Front

Convert 0.00027 to scientific notation.

Back

2.7 × 10^-4

Front

What is the significance of the exponent in scientific notation?

Back

The exponent indicates how many places the decimal point has been moved. A positive exponent means the number is large, while a negative exponent means the number is small.

Front

What is the scientific notation for 1,000,000?

Back

1 × 10^6

Front

What is the scientific notation for 0.000005?

Back

5 × 10^-6

Front

How do you multiply numbers in scientific notation?

Back

Multiply the coefficients (the numbers in front) and add the exponents. For example, (2 × 10^3) × (3 × 10^2) = 6 × 10^(3+2) = 6 × 10^5.

Front

How do you divide numbers in scientific notation?

Back

Divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents. For example, (6 × 10^5) ÷ (2 × 10^2) = 3 × 10^(5-2) = 3 × 10^3.