Download Scientific Notation

Scientific Notation
Scientific Notation
– A form used to help scientists work
with very large and very small numbers.
When a number is written in scientific notation, it is separated into
2 parts.
 The first part is a number between 1 and 9.
 The second part is a power of ten.
2.37 x 1015 m – scientific form
23.7 x 1015 m – proper exponential form… NOT SCIENTIFIC
FORM!!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Move the decimal place to get a number between 1 and 9 in front
of the decimal.
 To make large numbers smaller move the
decimal to the left and report the exponent
as a positive number.
Ex. 602, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000
_________________________________
 To make a small number larger move the
decimal to the right and report the exponent
as a negative number.
Ex. 0.000 002 m
_________________________________
Calculating with SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
+/ Move the decimal so exponents agree.
 +/- coefficients and retain exponent.
 Put answer in scientific form.
+
9.57 x 104 m
5.00 x 103 m 
+
9.57 x 104 m
.500 x 104 m
10.07 x 104 m
1.007 x 105 m
*Remember sigfigs 1.01 x 105 m
x
Multiply coefficients and add exponents.
(2.0 x 105 m)(3.0 x 105 m)=
6.0 x 1010 m2

Divide coefficient and subtract exponents.
(6.0 x 108 m)
(2.0 x 105 m)
= 3.0 x 103 m
* Do you know what EE means? Make sure you can use your calculator!!!!!!!!!!