Scientific Notation

Why do we use scientific notation?

• To write really large or small numbers.

• Only scientists use it.

• Because math and science teachers love to make things difficult.

How many place values can be to the left of the decimal point in proper scientific notation?

• As many as you want.

• One.

• a few.

Predict: Will this number have a positive or negative exponent when written in Scientific Notation?

• Positive

• Negative

You try:

Write 0.00000546 in scientific notation.

• 5.46 x 10⁶

• 5.46 x 10^-6

• 54.6 x 10^-7

• 546 x 10^-8

Write 5.43 x 10^-4 in standard form.

• 54300

• 0.0000543

• 0.000543

• 5430000

Write 890,000,000,000 in scientific notation.

• 890 x 10¹¹

• 890 x 10¹³

• 8.9 x 10¹¹

• 8.9 x 10^-11

Write 5.46 × 10⁸ in standard form

• 54600000000

• 546000000

• 0.00000000546

• 0.000000546

Write 565 x 10^-9 in scientific notation.

• It is already correct - no changes needed.

• 5.65 x 10^-11

• 5.65 x 10^-7

• 565 x 10^-7

Write 0.054 x 10⁶ in proper scientific notation.

• No change needed.

• 5.4 x 10⁴

• 5.4 x 10⁸

• 54 x 10⁵