Scribd
Upload
95 views3 pages

Understanding Scientific Notation Basics

Scientific notation is used to write very large or small numbers in a standardized way. It represents a number as a coefficient between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of 10. The power of 10 is the exponent. When writing a number in scientific notation, the decimal is moved to the right or left to give a coefficient between 1 and 10, and the exponent increases or decreases accordingly. Basic arithmetic like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division can be performed on numbers in scientific notation by keeping the base (10) the same and adding or subtracting the exponents.

Uploaded by

Ravid Yousafzai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
95 views3 pages

Understanding Scientific Notation Basics

Scientific notation is used to write very large or small numbers in a standardized way. It represents a number as a coefficient between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of 10. The power of 10 is the exponent. When writing a number in scientific notation, the decimal is moved to the right or left to give a coefficient between 1 and 10, and the exponent increases or decreases accordingly. Basic arithmetic like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division can be performed on numbers in scientific notation by keeping the base (10) the same and adding or subtracting the exponents.

Uploaded by

Ravid Yousafzai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Scientific 

Notation Class Notes

Quick review of last night's video lesson on 
Scientific Notation:

• It's written like this:  a  x  10n
The exponent can 
A real number greater  be a positive or 
than or equal to one  negative whole 
and less than 10. number (integer).

Since a can only be a number greater than or 
equal to 1 and less than 10, that means it can only 
have one digit in front of the decimal (1­9)

In scientific notation, when you "move" the 
decimal, your exponent on base 10 either 
increases or decreases.
Move the decimal right            Decreases Expo.
Move the decimal left Increases Expo.

Example 1:  5562.78 in SN

Decimal moved 3 left so we write that as:
5.56278 x 103

Example 2:  0.000345 in SN

Decimal moved 4 right so we write that as:
3.45 x 10­4  
Scientific Notation Class Notes

Multiplying using scientific notation
14 000 000 x  0.00000932
= (1.4 x 107 ) (9.32 x 10­6)
= 1.4 x 9.32 x 107 x 10­6   Keep base
add exponents
= 13.048 x 10 1

Last step... this is not in SN. Need to move 
decimal 1 left 13.048 x 101 so increase expo.
= 1.3048 x 102

Division: 
(4.32 x 106) ÷ (6.4 x 104)

re­write as a fraction

Divide the numbers & for 
the base of 10, keep base 
subtract exponents

Make sure answer is in SN
Scientific Notation Class Notes

Adding and Subtracting in SN
• Need "like terms" so you have to make the 
exponents the same first.
• Then add or subtract coefficients, keeping the 
bases the same.
• Make sure final answer is in SN

Example: (2.005 x 105) ­ (8.664 x 102)

If I choose to change the first number I must 
decrease the exponent by 3 which means move the 
decimal 3 to the right
(2005 x 102) ­ (8.664 x 102)
=1996.336 x 102
= 1.996336 x 105

You might also like