Scientific Notation

Introduction to Scientific Notation

Open Ended

Type a number that represents the entire population of the world.

​A way to represent and work with very large or very small numbers.

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Scientific Notation

AstronomicalDistance

Molecular Sizes

​​Pupulation Growth

​​Microscopic Differences

Scientific Notation Looks Like

• a is a number between 1 and 10 (called the coefficient)

• b is an integer (called the exponent)

Format: a x 10^b where:

How to convert a number to scientific notation

1. Move the decimal point: Move the decimal point in the original number until there is only one non-zero digit to the left of the decimal point.

2. Count the moves: Count how many places you moved the decimal point. This number will be the exponent of 10.

3. Determine the sign of the exponent:

   • If you moved the decimal point to the left, the exponent is positive.

   • If you moved the decimal point to the right, the exponent is negative.

4. Write the number in scientific notation: Combine the coefficient (the number you formed after moving the decimal) with the power of 10.