Scientific Notation

SOL 7.1

To change from scientific notation to expanded form

• Example of scientific notation: 2.49 x 103

Move the decimal to the right the number of times indicated by the exponent - add zeros to fill in empty spaces - drop the x10 and exponent

Ex: 2.49 x 103 = 2,490

To change from expanded form to scientific notation

• First, realize that if there is no decimal in a number, it means that the decimal is at the end of the number.

• Ex: 3,450 = 3.450.0

• Second, move the decimal to a point where there is only one whole number before the decimal.

• Ex: 3,450 = 3.450 (moved three spaces to the left)

• Third, rewrite the number with the decimal and add x 10 and the exponent, where the exponent equals the number of times you moved the decimal

• Example:

23,400,000,000

Move decimal to allow only one number in front of it: 2.34 (moved 10 times)

Rewrite (only need to rewrite numbers, not zeros) and add x 10 and exponent:

2.34 x 1010

Examples

• 786,500,000,000 = 7.865 x 1011

• 54,000 = 5.4 x 104

• 2,000,000 = 2 x 106