Lesson #5Scientific Notation
When numbers get really BIG or
really small it is inconvenient to write
out all of the zeros.
For this reason we use Scientific Notation.
eg. 1 Express using scientific notation
a)  5600
b) 0.00042
=5.6 x 1000
=5.6 x 103
= 4.2 /10000
= 4.2 x 10-4
3 because there are
3 places to the right
The decimal place.
-4 because there are
-4 places to the left
of the decimal place.
“Use the video link below to help you complete the table on the following page.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WEL117xXpw&feature=related
Table 1 - Positive Exponents Planets and Stars. (Round
your scientific notation answer to one decimal place)
Decimal Notation
Earth
Jupiter
Sun
Aldebaran
Betelgeuse
VV Cephei
Scientific Notation
Solutions
Decimal
Nota,on
Scien,fic
Nota,on
Earth
12
756
km
1.3
x
104
km
Jupiter
142
984
km
1.4
x
105
km
Sun
1
392
000
km
1.4
x
106
km
Aldebaran
59
770
000
km
6.0
x
107
km
Betelgeuse
903
500
000
km
9.0
x
108
km
VV
Cephei
2
644
800
000
km
2.6
x
109
km
“Use the interactive link below to help you complete the table on the following page.”
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale/
Table 2 - Negative Exponents Cells, Viruses and Proteins
(Round your scientific notation answer to one decimal place)
Decimal Notation
Salt Grain
0.005 m
Skin Cell
0.000 03 m
Chromosome
0.000 007 m
HIV Virus
0.000 000 130 m
Hepatitis B
0.000 000 045 m
Water Atom
0.000 000 000 275 m
Scientific Notation
Solutions
Decimal Notation
Scientific Notation
Salt Grain
0.005 m
5.0 x 10-3 m
Skin Cell
0.000 03
3.0 x 10-5 m
Chromosome
0.000 007
7.0 x 10-6 km
HIV Virus
0.000 000 130
1.3 x 10-7 km
Hepatitis B
0.000 000 045
4.5 x 10-8 km
Water Atom
0.000 000 000 275
2.8 x 10-10 km
Homework
pg. 40 #4-6, 8-9