Scientific Notation (small numbers)

What is scientific notation? Scientific notation is a way of rewriting large or small numbers so that you have one digit in the one’s place multiplied by some power of ten.

Describe the steps of rewriting a small number in scientific notation. Step 1: Move the decimal right, so that only one digit is in front of the decimal. Step 2: Multiply that number by a power of ten. (These exponents will be negative.)

Example 1: Write each number in scientific notation. 0.123 * move the decimal 1.23 * multiply by a power of ten 1.23 x 10-1 (The exponent is -1 because we moved the decimal 1 place right.)

Example 1: Write each number in scientific notation. (B) 0.0095 * move the decimal 9.5 * multiply by a power of ten 9.5 x 10-3 (The exponent is -3 because we moved the decimal 3 places right.)

Example 2: Write each number in standard form. (A) 2.34 x 10-2 * move the decimal left the number of the exponent * fill in spaces with zeros. 0.0234

Example 2: Write each number in standard form. (B) 5.9 x 10-3 * move the decimal left the number of the exponent * fill in any open spaces with zeros 0.0059