SCIENTIFIC NOTATION Example: 0.006 = 6 × 0.

001 = 6 ×
10-3 is in scientific notation.
Scientific notation is a way of writing very large or
Operations with Numbers Written
very small numbers. A number is written in
scientific notation when a number between 1 and in Scientific Notation
10 is multiplied by a power of 10. For example, When a number is written in scientific
650,000,000 can be written in scientific notation as notation it is written as a product of a
6.5 ✕ 108. number that is at least 1 but less than
10 and a power of 10. Scientific notation
makes it easier to read, write, and calculate with very large and
Scientific Notation Rules very small numbers.

To determine the power or exponent of 10, we must follow these You can add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers that are
written in scientific notation while still keeping the numbers in
rules: scientific notation.
Here are the steps for adding or subtracting two numbers written in
 The base should be always 10 scientific notation.
 The exponent must be a non-zero integer, that means it can 1. Rewrite the number with the smaller exponent so that it
be either positive or negative has the same exponent as the number with the larger
 The absolute value of the coefficient is greater than or equal exponent by moving the decimal point of its decimal
to 1 but it should be less than 10 number.
2. Add/subtract the decimal numbers. The power of 10 will
 Coefficients can be positive or negative numbers including not change.
whole and decimal numbers
 The mantissa carries the rest of the significant digits of the 3. Convert your result to scientific notation if necessary.
number Here is an example.
Let us understand how many places we need to move the decimal
Add (5.7×104)+(4.87×105).
point after the single-digit number with the help of the First, notice that the exponents are 4 and
below representation. 5. You will need to rewrite 5.7×104 so
that it has an exponent of 5. Because you
1. If the given number is multiples of 10 then the need to increase the exponent by 1, you
decimal point has to move to the left, and the will move the decimal point one space to
power of 10 will be positive. the left.
Example: 6000 = 6 × 103 is in scientific notation. 5.7×104 becomes 0.57×105
Now, rewrite the problem.
2. If the given number is smaller than 1, then the
(0.57×105)+(4.87×105)
decimal point has to move to the right, so the
power of 10 will be negative.
Next, add the decimal numbers using what you have learned about Next, divide the powers of 10 by subtracting their exponents.
decimal addition. The power of 10 stays the same. Remember that subtracting a negative number is the same as
(0.57+4.87)×105 = 5.44×105 adding the positive version of the number.
105÷10−2=105−(−2)=105+2=107
Last, check to make sure that your answer is in scientific notation.
5.44 is at least 1 but less than 10, so your answer is in scientific Now, combine the results.
notation. (8.4×105)÷(1.4×10−2)=(8.4÷1.4)×(105÷10−2)=6×107
The answer is (5.7×104)+(4.87×105)=5.44×105.
Here are the steps for multiplying or dividing two numbers in Last, check to make sure that your answer is in scientific notation.
scientific notation. 6 is at least 1 but less than 10, so your answer is in scientific
1. Multiply/divide the decimal numbers. notation.
The answer is (8.4×105)÷(1.4×10−2)=6×107.
2. Multiply/divide the powers of 10 by adding/subtracting
their exponents.
Examples
3. Convert your answer to scientific notation if necessary.
Here is an example of multiplying two decimal numbers. Example 1
Multiply (3.4×10−2)(6.2×106). Diana learned that the Atlantic Ocean has an area
First, multiply the decimal numbers using what you have learned of 4.108×107 square miles while the Indian Ocean has an area
about decimal multiplication. of 2.835×107 square miles. She wants to know how much bigger the
3.4×6.2=21.08 area of the Atlantic Ocean is compared to the area of the Indian
Ocean.
Next, multiply the powers of 10 by adding their exponents.
10−2×106=10−2+6=104 In order to figure this out, Diana will need to subtract the two
areas.
Now, combine the results.
(4.108×107)−(2.835×107)
(3.4×10−2)(6.2×106)=(3.4×6.2)×(10−2×106)=21.08×104
First, she should notice that the exponents are both 7. Because the
Finally, convert your answer to scientific notation. You will need to
exponents are the same, she does not need to rewrite either
rewrite 21.08×104 so that the decimal number is at least 1 but less
number.
than 10. Move its decimal point one space to the left. Then, to keep
Now, she can subtract the decimal numbers using what she has
the overall value the same, increase the exponent on the 10 by 1.
learned about decimal subtraction. The power of 10 stays the same.
21.08×104 becomes 2.108×105
(4.108−2.835)×107=1.273×107
The answer is (3.4×10−2)(6.2×106)=2.108×105.
The answer is that the Atlantic Ocean is 1.273×107 more square
Here is an example of dividing two decimal numbers. miles than the Indian Ocean.
Divide (8.4×105)÷(1.4×10−2).
First, divide the decimal numbers using what you have learned Example 2
about decimal division. At its closest, the planet Neptune is 4,300,000,000 kilometers away
8.4÷1.4=6 from Earth. A group of astronauts from Earth want to make it to
Neptune in 20,000 days. If they travel the same number of
kilometers each day, how many kilometers will they travel each
day? Convert both numbers to scientific notation before solving. Example 4
First, convert both numbers to scientific notation. Multiply (1.2×104)(3.4×104).
4,300,000,000=4.3×10920,000=2×104 First, multiply the decimal numbers using what you have learned
about decimal multiplication.
Next, notice that the astronauts want to travel the same distance
1.2×3.4=4.08
each day. You will need to divide the total distance by the number
of days to find the distance they will need to travel each day. Next, multiply the powers of 10 by adding their exponents.
(4.3×109)÷(2×104) 104×104=104+4=108
Now, divide the decimal numbers using what you have learned Now, combine the results.
about decimal division. (1.2×104)(3.4×104)=(1.2×3.4)×(104×104)=4.08×108
4.3÷2=2.15
Last, check to make sure that your answer is in scientific notation.
Next, divide the powers of 10 by subtracting their exponents. 4.08 is at least 1 but less than 10, so your answer is in scientific
109÷104=109−4=105 notation.
The answer is (1.2×104)(3.4×104)=4.08×108.
Now, combine the results.
(4.3×109)÷(2×104)=(4.3÷2)×(109÷104)=2.15×105
Example 5
The answer is that the astronauts will need to travel 2.15×10 or5
Subtract (5.6×104)−(3.2×104).
215,000 kilometers per day. They will be traveling for almost 55 First, notice that the exponents are both 4. Because the exponents
years! are the same, you do not need to rewrite either number.
Now, subtract the decimal numbers using what you have learned
Example 3 about decimal subtraction. The power of 10 stays the same.
Add (3.4×103)+(5.6×104). (5.6−3.2)×104=2.4×104
First, notice that the exponents are 3 and 4. You will need to
Last, check to make sure that your answer is in scientific notation.
rewrite 3.4×103 so that it has an exponent of 4. Because you need
2.4 is at least 1 but less than 10, so your answer is in scientific
to increase the exponent by 1, you will move the decimal point one
notation.
space to the left.
The answer is (5.6×104)−(3.2×104)=2.4×104.
3.4×103 becomes 0.34×104
Now, rewrite the problem.
(0.34×104)+(5.6×104)
Next, add the decimal numbers using what you have learned about
decimal addition. The power of 10 stays the same.
(0.34+5.6)×104=5.94×104
Last, check to make sure that your answer is in scientific notation.
5.94 is at least 1 but less than 10, so your answer is in scientific
notation.
The answer is (3.4×103)+(5.6×104)=5.94×104.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES Determining the number of significant figures in measured
quantities is essential when reporting the precision of measured
Significant figures, also called significant digits, any of the digits values and the precision that can be reported when measured
of a number beginning with the digit farthest to the left that is not values are used in calculations. The rules for determining the
zero and ending with the last digit farthest to the right that is either number of significant figures are as follows:
not zero or that is a zero but is considered to be exact. Significant
figures are used to report a value, measured or calculated, to the 1. All nonzero digits are significant.
correct number of decimal places or digits that will reflect the
precision of the value. o For example, the value 211.8 has four
significant figures.
The number of significant figures a value has depends on how it 2. All zeros that are found between nonzero digits are
was measured, or how it was calculated. When a measurement is significant.
taken, the precision of that measurement is dependent on the
equipment used to take the measurement. The measurement will o Thus, the number 20,007, with three 0s
have some digits that are certain and one digit that is uncertain, or between the 2 and 7, has a total of five
estimated. The digits will be certain to the lowest increment division significant figures.
of the equipment used to take the measurement, and the estimated 3. Leading zeros (to the left of the first nonzero digit) are
digit will be based on a best guess when the measurement is not significant.
between two of the lowest increments of the equipment. If, for
example, a measurement is taken with a metric ruler that has o A value such as 0.0085, for example, has
millimetre markings as the lowest increment, the number of two significant figures because the 0s
millimetres of the measurement will be known for certain. One before the 8 are placeholders and are not
other digit will be estimated, since the measured quantity can be significant.
between two millimetre increments. If the item being measured falls
4. Trailing zeros for a whole number that ends with a
exactly on a millimetre marking, then the estimated digit is written
decimal point are significant.
as a zero, to indicate that the digit of the measurement beyond the
millimetre increments on the ruler is thought to be a zero, and not o For example, a value written as 320. shows
a nonzero estimated value. the decimal point, which indicates that the
0 to the right of the 2 was measured;
The basic concept of significant figures in measurements relates to therefore, the value has a total of three
the fact that a measured value cannot be more precise than the significant figures. If the decimal point was
equipment being used to make the measurement. It should be not written, then 320 would have only two
noted here that the equipment used to take a measurement does significant figures. In general, any
not determine the number of significant figures a measured value confusion this may cause can be avoided
will have, only where the precision of a value must stop being by writing values such as these in scientific
written. Only one estimated value can ever be included in a notation.
measured quantity.
5. Trailing zeros to the right of the decimal place are
Rules for significant figures significant.
 o This means a value such as 12.000 has a involving measurements is determined based on the mathematical
total of five significant figures, since the 0s operation being performed.
after the decimal place have been
measured to be zeros, indicating they are When two or more measured quantities are added or subtracted,
as significant as any other nonzero digit. the resulting value will have the same number of decimal
places as the value with the fewest number of decimal places
6. Exact numbers, and irrationally defined numbers
(the limiting value). So if the measured values of 22.35 and
like Euler’s number (e) and pi (π), have
47.773 are added, the limiting value of 22.35 has two decimal
an infinite number of significant figures.
places, which means that the result of the addition will have only
o In a defining expression like 1 metre = 100 two decimal places.
centimetres, these values are considered
exact and thus have an infinite number of When two or more measured quantities are being multiplied or
significant figures. While π is usually divided, the answer will have the same number of total
written as 3.14 for ease of calculation, the significant figures as the value with the fewest number of
π button on the calculator would be used significant figures. So if the measured values of 2.445 and 31.7
in any calculations, and thus it is are being multiplied, the resulting value will have three significant
considered to be a value with infinite figures, since 2.445 has four significant figures, but 31.7 has only
significant figures. three significant figures.
7. For any value written in scientific notation as A ×10x,
the number of significant figures is determined by
applying the above rules only to the value of A; the x is
considered an exact number and thus has an infinite
number of significant figures.
o For example, the value 4,500 can be
written in scientific notation to reflect two,
three, and four significant digits:
o 4.5 × 103 has two significant figures
o 4.50 × 103 has three significant figures
o 4.500 × 103 has four significant figures
Calculations with significant figures

For calculations involving measured quantities, the first step in