Transcript Scientific Notation - Solon City Schools

Scientific Notation
Helping us write
really tiny
or
really big numbers
Carelessness when using numbers
I have a million math problems to do
 I have a trillion things to get done tonight


If you win 1 million dollars and you’re
given the prize in 100 dollar bills, your
stack of money is….
4 inches high
However…

If you win 1 trillion dollars and you’re
given the prize in 100 dollar bills, your
stack of money is….
67 miles high
Rules to Scientific Notation
Parts:
1. Coefficient (mantissa) – must be a
number from 1 – 9.9
2. Exponent – a power of 10
3.4 x 1021
Easier than writing 3,400,000,000,000,000,000,000
Numbers Greater Than 9.9
1.
2.
Find the number by moving the decimal
point that is between 1 – 9.9
45,300,000  4.53
Write a positive exponent which is
equal to the number of places you
moved the decimal point to the left.
4.53 x 107
Numbers Less Than 1
1.
2.
Find the number by moving the decimal
point that is between 1 – 9.9
0.000291  2.91
Write a negative exponent which is
equal to the number of places you
moved the decimal point to the right.
2.91 x 10-4
Be Careful…

Remember the rule about the coefficient!
Ex. (4.0 x 103) x (3.0 x 104) = 12.0 x 107
WRONG!!!
Answer = 1.2 x 108
Special Note
Sometimes exponents are written
differently.
 We are used to 3.4 x 105
 However, you may see 3.4E5
 It means the same thing (“E” represents
the exponent and replaces x 10)
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