Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is a method of writing numbers that are very large or very small

A number expressed as “a point b times ten to the c^th ” can be written in scientific notation as: “a.b x 10^c”
The first number (a.b) is the coefficient. c represents the power of 10

To write a number in scientific notation, first find the coefficient (must be greater than or equal to 1 but less than 10). Put the decimal point after the first non zero digit

To find the power of 10, count the number of places we have moved the decimal point to find the first number

If we move the decimal point towards left, the power of 10 is positive and if we move the decimal point towards right, the power of 10 is negative

To write a number in the standard form, look at the power of 10

If the power of 10 is positive, move the decimal point that many places to the right. Use zeros as placeholders

If the power of 10 is negative, move the decimal point that many places to the left. Use zeros as placeholders

A number expressed as “a point b times ten to the c^th ” is written in scientific notation as: “a.b x 10^c”
The first number (a.b) is the coefficient.
‘c’ corresponds to the number of places the decimal point is shifted

Scientific notation is a very useful way to express and manipulate very large or very small numbers that take many places to express in standard form

To multiply two numbers in scientific notation, multiply the coefficients and add the exponents

To divide two numbers in scientific notation, divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents

To compare two numbers in scientific notation, first compare the powers of 10. The number with the greater power of 10 is greater

If the powers of 10 are the same, compare the coefficients. The number with the greater coefficient is greater