Scientific Notation

Write the number 3 x 10 -4 in standard notation

.0003 = 3 x 10 -4

Write the number 0.000000349 in scientific notation

0.000000349 = 3.49 -7

Write the number 5.67 x 10 7 in standard notation

5.6e7 = 56000000

Write the number 765,000,000,000 in scientific notation

7.65000000000 = 7.65 x10"

If you moved to the right

negative exponent

If you moved to the left

positive exponent

A negative exponent shows that

the decimal point is shifted that number of places to the left

A positive exponent shows that

the decimal point is shifted that number of places to the right

Going from Ordinary Notation to Scientific Notation

Place the decimal point after the first digit that is a nonzero number. Find the exponent by counting the number of places that you moved the decimal point.

Write the final number in

Scientific Notation

What is Scientific Notation

Scientific Notation is a shortcut that uses powers of 10 that are written as 10x. Exponent is shown as a superscript.

Purpose of Scientific Notation

Scientists have to measure very large and very small amounts. Scientific Notation is used to make it easier to work with these numbers.

Going from Scientific Notation to Ordinary Notation

Write the number without the exponent. The exponent of 10 is the number of places the decimal point must be shifted to give the number in long form.