1. Aim: How can we convert numbers into scientific notation and help with significant figures?
Do Now
The speed of light is 300,000,000 m/s
How would this look in scientific notation?
The answer will be known shortly

2. SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
Illustrates numbers by orders of magnitude (Powers of 10)
100 =
101 =
102 = 1 10
100
10-1 =
10-2 =
10-3 =
0.1 or 1/10
0.01 or 1/100
0.001 or 1/1,000

3. Scientific Notation Form: Rules:
M x 10n
Rules:
M must only have 1 non-zero digit to the left of the decimal.
Example: 3.24 x 102 is correct
32.4 x 101 is incorrect
0.324 x 103 is incorrect

4. Example: 45,625 (this is really 45,625 x 100)
Add a power of 10 every time you move the decimal point one place to the left
Example: 45,625 (this is really 45,625 x 100) 4 3 2 1
x 104
3. Subtract a power of 10 every time you move the decimal point one place to the right
Example: (this is really x 100) 1 2 3
5.38 x 10-3
Do Now: 300,000,000 x 100 = 3.0 x 108
Who was right?

5. Convert the following to standard notation:
5.5 x 104
8.321 x 10-3
2.1 x 109
3.8 x 10-5
55,000
2,100,000,000
Convert the following to scientific notation:
9,508
10,501
0.025
9.508 x 103
6.07 x 10-4
x 104
2.5 x 10-2

6. Only reliable accurate digits can be in scientific notation.
These are known as significant digits (significant figures)

7. Rules:
All non-zero digits are significant
Ex:
6 sig. figs.
All zeros between non-zeros are significant
Ex:
3. All final zeros before a decimal and beginning zeros are not significant
Ex: 300,000,000
1 sig. fig.
2 sig. figs.

8. 4. All final zeros after a decimal are significant
Ex: 25.00
4 sig. figs.
How many sig. figs. are in each of the following:
9,500
10,201.06
6.2 x 106 2 5 7

9. Take out your calculators
Do you know how to use your calculator correctly?
Your calculator has a button that either says EE or EXP
This button means times ten to the
Ex: 3.97 x 1014 x 2.86 x =
This is how you type it:
3.97 EE 14 x 2.86 EE ± 17 = or
3.97 EXP 14 x 2.86 EXP (-) 17 =

10. Pages for Additional Reading