Scientific Notation Formula
Last Updated :
23 Jul, 2025
Scientific notation is a way of expressing very large or very small numbers in a compact form. Instead of writing out all the digits, we write a number as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10.
In this article, we will discuss what scientific notation is, its formula, rules, uses, and how to write in scientific notation.
What is Scientific Notation?
Scientific notation is a method of displaying extremely big or extremely small numbers in a more straightforward manner. As discussed above, numbers can be extended indefinitely, but such large numbers cannot be written on a sheet of paper. In addition, the numbers in the millions placed after the decimal are required to be represented in a more straightforward manner. As a result, representing a few integers in their expanded form is challenging. As a result, we employ scientific notation.
Simply stated, scientific notation is employed to express any number as a decimal number with its value between 1 and 10, excluding 10 multiplied by a power of 10. The general form of a scientific notation is:
n × 10m
where,
n is a real number such that 1 ≤ n < 10 and is known as the significant.
Rules of Scientific Notation
- One Non-zero Digit: The number should be written so that there is only one non-zero digit to the left of the decimal point (e.g., 3.4, not 34).
- Power of Ten: The number is multiplied by 10n, where n is an integer. If you move the decimal point to the left, n is positive; if you move it to the right, n is negative.
- Magnitude: The coefficient (the number before 10n) should always be greater than or equal to 1 and less than 10.
Why Use Scientific Notation?
Scientific notation is useful for several reasons:
- It simplifies the writing of extremely large or small numbers, making them easier to understand.
- It makes calculations simpler, especially multiplication and division.
- It helps avoid mistakes when reading or writing very large or very small numbers, which can be cumbersome.
- It provides a consistent way to represent numbers across different scientific disciplines.
How to Write Numbers in Scientific Notation
To convert a number into scientific notation, follow these steps:
- Identify the significant digits in the number.
- Move the decimal point to the right or left until you have a number between 1 and 10.
- Count how many places you moved the decimal point to determine the exponent of 10:
- If you moved left, the exponent is positive.
- If you moved right, the exponent is negative.
- Write the number in the form n × 10m
Multiplication and Division in Scientific Notation
When multiplying or dividing numbers in scientific notation:
Multiplication: Multiply the coefficients and add the exponents.
- Example: (3 × 104) × (2 × 103) = (3 × 2) × 104+3 = 6 × 107.
Division: Divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents.
- Example: \frac{6 \times 10^5}{2 \times 10^2} = \frac{6}{2} \times 10^{5-2} = 3 \times 10^3
Addition and Subtraction in Scientific Notation
For addition and subtraction, the numbers must have the same exponent:
If the exponents are the same, add or subtract the coefficients.
- Example: (2 × 104) + (3 × 104) = (2 + 3)×104 =5×104.
If the exponents are different, convert one number to have the same exponent as the other before performing the operation.
Similar Problems
Problem 1: Convert 450,000,000 to scientific notation.
Solution:
To convert 450,000,000, move the decimal point 8 places to the left:
450,000,000 = 4.5 × 108
Problem 2: Convert 0.0000091 to scientific notation.
Solution:
To convert 0.0000091, move the decimal point 6 places to the right:
0.0000091 = 9.1 × 10-6
Problem 3: Convert 78,000,000,000 to scientific notation.
Solution:
To convert 78,000,000,000, move the decimal point 10 places to the left:
78,000,000,000 = 7.8 × 1010
Problem 4: Convert 0.0000065 to scientific notation.
Solution:
To convert 0.0000065, move the decimal point 6 places to the right:
0.0000065 = 6.5 × 10-6
Problem 5: Convert 1,500,000 to scientific notation.
Solution:
To convert 1,500,000, move the decimal point 6 places to the left:
1,500,000 = 1.5 × 106
1. Convert 450,000,000 to scientific notation.
2. Convert 0.0000091 to scientific notation.
3. Convert 78,000,000,000 to scientific notation.
4. Convert 0.0000065 to scientific notation.
5. Convert 1,500,000 to scientific notation.
6. Convert 0.0000002 to scientific notation.
7. Convert 32,500 to scientific notation.
8. Convert 0.0000048 to scientific notation.
9. Convert 120,000,000,000 to scientific notation.
10. Convert 0.000075 to scientific notation.
Conclusion
Scientific notation is a powerful tool for expressing very large or very small numbers succinctly. By converting numbers into a format of m is an integer, we simplify mathematical operations and improve readability. Understanding and mastering scientific notation is essential for accurate calculations in scientific research, engineering, and various applications involving extreme values.
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