Cornell Notes
Topic:___________________________________
Questions
Notes
»What is scientific
notation?
Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is the way
that scientists easily handle
very long numbers.
For example, instead of writing
0.0000000056, we write
-9
5.6 x 10 .
5.6: coefficient -9: exponent
Scientific Notation
More examples:
46,600,000 = 4.66 x107
-4
0.00053 = 5.3 x10
-10
0.0000000000106 = 1.06 x10
4
32,000 = 3.2 x10
»What is the
correct format for
writing numbers in
scientific notation?
Scientific Notation
The coefficient must be a
number greater than 1 but less
than 10.
The exponent of 10 is the
number of places the decimal
point must be shifted to return
the number to long form.
Scientific Notation
+A positive exponent shows
that the decimal point shifts that
number of places to the right to
return to long form.
-A negative exponent shows
that the decimal point shifts that
number of places to the left to
return to long form.
»How are numbers
converted to
scientific notation?
1. Move the decimal until it is
just to the right of the first nonzero number.
2. Count the number of places
the decimal moved.
3. Write the new number
without the zeros you skipped.
4. Add x10 after the number.
5. Write the number of places
the decimal moved as the
exponent on 10.
6. If the original number was a
decimal number, make the
exponent negative.
Watch this youtube
video on scientific
notation.
Click Here
Or copy & paste this address into your browser
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H578qUeoBC0