AMove the decimal until the resulting number is greater than 1 and less than 10. The number of places the decimal moves is the exponent of 10 in the scientific notation.
BMove the decimal until the resulting number is greater than 1 and less than 10. The number of places the decimal moves is the exponent of 10 in the scientific notation.
A3.7* 10^8
B7.6* 10^(- 12)
Practice makes perfect
A number written in scientific notation usually expresses a very large or very small number by writing its value as the product of the number's first nonzero digit and 10 to some power. Let's look at some examples.
Standard Notation
Scientific Notation
5 0 000 000 000
5 * 10^(10)
5 00 000
5 * 10^5
5 0
5 * 10^1
5
5 * 10^0
0.5
5 * 10^(- 1)
0.00005
5 * 10^(- 5)
0.0000000005
5 * 10^(- 10)
To change from standard form to scientific notation, we need to move the decimal until the resulting number is greater than 1 and less than 10. The number of places the decimal moves is the exponent of 10. Let's take a look at the given number.
3 70 000 000
In this case, the number is greater than 10, so the decimal point will move to the left. There are eight places after the first digit, so this is the power of 10.
This means that the scientific notation of 370 000 000 is 3.7 * 10^8.
Standard Form:& 370 000 000 Scientific Notation:& 3.7 * 10^8
Let's consider the given number.
0.0000000000076
In this case, the number is less than 1, so the decimal point will move to the right. There are 12 places before the first nonzero digit, so this is the power of 10.
This means that the scientific notation of 0.0000000000076 is 7.6 * 10^(- 12).
Standard Form:& 0.0000000000076 Scientific Notation:& 7.6* 10^(- 12)
