1. Adding/Subtracting in Scientific Notation

2. Adding/Subtracting when Exponents are Equal
When the exponents are the same for all the numbers you are working with, add/subtract the base numbers then simply put the given exponent on the 10.

3. General Formulas (N X 10x) + (M X 10x) = (N + M) X 10x
(N X 10y) - (M X 10y) = (N-M) X 10y

4. Example 1 Given: 2.56 X 103 + 6.964 X 103 Add: 2.56 + 6.964 = 9.524
Answer: X 103

5. Example 2
Given: 9.49 X 105 – X 105
Subtract: 9.49 – = 4.627
Answer: X 105

6. Adding With the Same Exponent
(3.45 x 103) + (6.11 x 103)
= 9.56
9.56 x 103

7. Subtracting With the Same Exponent
(8.96 x 107) – (3.41 x 107)
8.96 – 3.41 = 5.55
5.55 x 107

8. Adding/Subtracting when the Exponents are Different

9. When adding or subtracting numbers in scientific notation, the exponents must be the same.
If they are different, you must move the decimal either right or left so that they will have the same exponent.

10. Moving the Decimal
For each move of the decimal to the right you have to add -1 to the exponent.
For each move of the decimal to the left you have to add +1 to the exponent.

11. Continued…
It does not matter which number you decide to move the decimal on, but remember that in the end both numbers have to have the same exponent on the 10.

12. Example 1
Given: 2.46 X X 103
Shift decimal 3 places to the left for 103.
Move: X 103+3
Add: 2.46 X X 106
Answer: X 106

13. Example 2
Given: X 103 – 2.65 X 10-1
Shift decimal 4 places to the left for 10-1.
Move: X 10(-1+4)
Subtract: X X 103
Answer: X 103

14. (4.12 x 106) + (3.94 x 104)
(412 x 104) + (3.94 x 104) =
x 104
Express in proper form: 4.15 x 106

15. Subtracting With Different Exponents
(4.23 x 103) – (9.56 x 102)
(42.3 x 102) – (9.56 x 102)
42.3 – 9.56 = 32.74
32.74 x 102
Express in proper form: 3.27 x 103