Objective: To write numbers in both scientific notation and standard form.
6-1 Scientific Notation
Scientific Notation is a way to write very large or very
small numbers in a more simplified format. It has the
form of c x 10n where 1 ≤ c < 10 and n is an integer.
EX: 1 x 108
1.54 x 107
9.99 x 104
Objective: To write numbers in both scientific notation and standard form.
Writing numbers in Scientific Notation
Steps:
1) Move the decimal point until there is only one number (other than zero) left in front.
2) Multiply that number by a power of ten. (The exponent represents how many times
you moved the decimal point.)
• NEGATIVE EXPONENT if the original number was less than 1 (small)
• POSITIVE EXPONENT if the original number was greater than 1 (large)
Write each number in scientific notation.
(The diameter of the planet Jupiter is about 142,800 km. Write in scientific
notation.)
1) 142,800
2) 0.000089
(The diameter of the moon is 3,476,000 m. Write in scientific notation.)
3) 3,476,000
4) 0.0000035
Objective: To write numbers in both scientific notation and standard form.
Writing numbers in standard form
• If the exponent is POSITIVE, move the decimal point that
many places to the RIGHT.
• If the exponent is NEGATIVE, move the decimal point that
many places to the LEFT.
Write each number in standard form.
(At one point, the distance from the Earth to the moon is 1.513431 x 1010 in.
Write in standard form.)
5) 1.513431 x 1010
(A typical width of a human hair is about 8.0 x 10-5 m. Write in standard form.)
6) 8.0 x 10-5
7) 7.66 x 106
8) 2.5 x 10-4
9.) 6.5 x 108
10.) 3.4 x 10-5