1. Helping us write really tiny or really big numbers
Scientific Notation
Helping us write really tiny or
really big numbers

2. Rules to Scientific Notation
Parts: 1. Coefficient (mantissa) – must be a number from 1 – Exponent – a power of x 1021 Easier than writing 3,400,000,000,000,000,000,000

3. Numbers Greater Than 9.9
Create a number that is between 1 – 9.9 by moving the decimal point to the left
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

4. Numbers Less Than 1
Create a number that is between 1 – 9.9 by moving the decimal point to the right
 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

5. Be Careful…
Remember your coefficient should display the proper amount of significant figures…and your calculator doesn’t know sig figs!!!!
Ex. (4.2 x 108) x (6.35 x 1012) = x 1021
WRONG!!!
Answer = 2.7 x 1021

6. 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)
The exponent key is a “2nd function” on your calculator