Chapter 1:Unit 8. Scientific Notation

Scientific Notation

In scientific notation, a number is written as x*10^y  _.The number x is called coefficient is a number between 1 and 10. The value y is called exponent, which can be any positive or negative whole number. The decimal and scientific notation forms of a number always contain same number of significant figures. The decimal point is placed after the first nonzero digit and every other digits are written after the decimal point. Usually a very large or a very small number is written in scientific notation.

To multiply exponential term: add the exponents.

To divide exponential terms: subtract the exponents.

Example: 600000 can be written as 6.*10⁵

0.00000328 can be written as 3.28*10^-6

Watch this out!

Questions:

1. Write each number in scientific notation :a) 95200 b) 6780,000 c) 000725

2. Write the following using standard notation: a)60 *10^{-9  b)} 5.2131*10^{2  c)} 7.*10-⁵

Ans: 1. a) 9.52*10⁴
b) 6.78 *10⁶
c) 7.25*10^-4

2.a) 0.00000006
b) 521.31
c) 0.00007