Scientific Notation

So the number is written in two parts:

Just the digits (with the decimal point placed after the first digit), followed by
× 10 to a power that puts the decimal point where it should be
(i.e. it shows how many places to move the decimal point).

In this example, 5326.6 is written as 5.3266 × 10³,
because 5326.6 = 5.3266 × 1000 = 5.3266 × 10³

How to Do it

To figure out the power of 10, think "how many places do I move the decimal point?"

	When the number is 10 or greater, the decimal point has to move to the left, and the power of 10 is positive.

	When the number is smaller than 1, the decimal point has to move to the right, so the power of 10 is negative.

Example: 0.0055 is written 5.5 × 10^-3

Because 0.0055 = 5.5 × 0.001 = 5.5 × 10^-3

Example: 3.2 is written 3.2 × 10⁰

We didn't have to move the decimal point at all, so the power is 10⁰

But it is now in Scientific Notation

Exponents Notes HELPFUL hints

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

This is a fun practice site.

http://janus.astro.umd.edu/astro/scinote/

EXPONENTS

CAN YOU CAPTURE THE EXPONENT GHOSTS?

One of the ghosts in the spooky sequence is missing. Can you find it?

http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/spookyseq/spookytrino.html

EXPONENTS

See the exponents in action.

Go to the Milky Way while doing it.

View the Milky Way at 10,OOO light years from Earth.

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/

EXPONENTS

Travel across the universe with the POWERS OF TEN.

http://microcosm.web.cern.ch/Microcosm/P10/english/welcome.html