Introduction to Scientific Notation

Do you know this number, 300,000,000 m/sec.? 

It's the Speed of light ! 

Do you recognize this number, 0.000 000 000 753 kg. ? 

This is the mass of a dust particle! 

Scientists have developed a shorter method to express very large numbers. This method is called scientific notation. Scientific Notation is based on powers of the base number 10.

The number 123,000,000,000 in scientific notation is written as : 

scientific-notation4

The first number 1.23 is called the coefficient. It must be greater than or equal to 1 and less than 10. 

The second number is called the base . It must always be 10 in scientific notation. The base number 10 is always written in exponent form. In the number 1.23 x 1011 the number 11 is referred to as the exponent or power of ten. 


To write a number in scientific notation:

Put the decimal after the first digit and drop the zeroes. 

scientific-notation2

In the number 123,000,000,000 The coefficient will be 1.23 

To find the exponent count the number of places from the decimal to the end of the number. 

In 123,000,000,000 there are 11 places. Therefore we write 123,000,000,000 as:

scientific-notation3

Exponents are often expressed using other notations. The number 123,000,000,000 can also be written as: 

1.23E+11 or as 1.23 X 10^11 




For small numbers we use a similar approach. Numbers less smaller than 1 will have a negative exponent. A millionth of a second is:

0.000001 sec. or 1.0E-6 or 1.0^-6 or scientific-notation1

Try These sample questions!

Type the number for each in the box provided then hit the submit button.

 

5.3 X 10-3=

6.34 X 105=

5.56 X 107=

To practice more problems use the scientific notation generator. Click here!

To learn about and practice multiplication and division questions using scientific notation Click here.

Scientific Notation

Introduction to Scientiic Notation:   Learn the basic principles of scientific notation. Convert standard numbers to scientific notation.

Scientific Notation Generator: Javascript program will enable you to practice converting any number from basic notation to scientific notation.

Multiplication with Scientific Notation:   Learn multiplication using scientific notation, with positive and negative exponents.

Division with Scientific Notation:   Learn division using scientific notation with positive and negative exponents.

Word Problems using Scientific Notation:   Mixed multiplication/division problems, word problems using scientific notation.

An Integrated Math Science and Art  (STEAM) Activity- Mass, Volume Density Activity using the Gates Project from Central Park NYC.