Lesson 1.

Scientific Notation and

Significant Figures

General Physics 1/2

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
We are living in a very vast universe. The distances
between the planets are very far.

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Likewise, there are objects which are very small
which cannot be seen by our naked eye.

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 In science, there is way on how to
express very large or very small
quantities. Furthermore, there are rules
to follow when dealing with numbers
from measuring instruments.

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How do you write numbers in
scientific notation and in
correct number of significant
figures?

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 Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Solve measurement problems involving

expression of measurements in scientific
notation (STEM-GP12EU-Ia-1).

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Discuss the importance of scientific notation and

significant figures.

● Write measurements in scientific notation and the

correct number of significant figures.

● Solve measurement problems using scientific

notation and express answers in the correct
number of significant figures.
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 Scientific Notation

Very large and very small numbers can be expressed

using scientific notation, sometimes called powers-
of-10 notation.

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 Scientific Notation

All numbers can be expressed using the form:

Equation
1.1

where N is a number between 1 and 10. It can either be

an integer or decimal. On the other hand, a is any
positive or negative integer.

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 Scientific Notation

Equation
1.1

● N should be any number from 1 to 9.

● The exponent, a, should reflect how many times the
decimal point is moved.
● The power of 10 can either be positive or negative
depending on whether you move the decimal point
to the left or to the right.

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 Scientific Notation

● Moving the decimal point to the left makes the

exponent positive while moving it to the right makes
it negative.

● In the standard form of scientific notation, N should

only include one digit to the left of the decimal
point.

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 Scientific Notation

The temperature at the core of the sun is 15 700 000 K.

15 700 000.

1. Move the decimal point to get a number, N,

between the digits 1 and 5.
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 Scientific Notation

The temperature at the core of the sun is 15 700 000 K.

spans 7 digits

15 700 000.

2. Determine the exponent, a. This depends on the

number of times you move the decimal point.
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 Scientific Notation

The temperature at the core of the sun is 15 700 000 K.

spans 7 digits

15 700 000.

3. Write the number in the correct scientific notation

following the format above. Therefore, 15 700 000 K
is equal to 1.57 ✕ 107 K.
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 Scientific Notation

The radius of a hydrogen atom is 0.000000000025 m.

0.000000000025

1. Move the decimal point to determine N.

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 Scientific Notation

The radius of a hydrogen atom is 0.000000000025 m.

spans 11 digits

0.000000000025

2. Determine the exponent, a. This depends on the

number of times you move the decimal point.
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 Scientific Notation

The radius of a hydrogen atom is 0.000000000025 m.

spans 11 digits

0.000000000025

3. Write the number in the correct scientific notation

following the format above. Therefore,
0.000000000025 m is equivalent to 2.5 ✕ 10−11 m.
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How do you add and subtract
numbers in scientific notation?

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 Addition and Subtraction in Scientific Notation

● To add and subtract quantities in scientific

notation, you need to make sure first that the
expressions have similar terms.

● It means that the quantities have the same base

numbers and exponents.

● This rule is important because it makes sure that all

the places of the values are lined up accordingly.

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 Addition and Subtraction in Scientific Notation
Suppose you are required to add the following masses:
5.5 ✕ 103 kg and 3.6 ✕ 103 kg.

1. Begin by factoring out the common factor 103.

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 Addition and Subtraction in Scientific Notation
Suppose you are required to add the following masses:
5.5 ✕ 103 kg and 3.6 ✕ 103 kg.

2. Add N accordingly and make sure that it follows the

standard form of the scientific notation.

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 Addition and Subtraction in Scientific Notation

Add the masses of the two vehicles 5.5 ✕ 103 kg and

3.6 ✕ 105 kg.

1. Rewrite first the powers of 10 with a larger

exponent to make it similar to the other powers of
10.

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 Addition and Subtraction in Scientific Notation

Add the masses of the two vehicles 5.5 ✕ 103 kg and

3.6 ✕ 105 kg.

2. Factor out the common factor from the two

quantities you are adding.

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 Addition and Subtraction in Scientific Notation

Add the masses of the two vehicles 5.5 ✕ 103 kg and

3.6 ✕ 105 kg.

3. Add N accordingly and make sure that the final

answer follows the standard form of the scientific
notation.

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 Addition and Subtraction in Scientific Notation

● Subtraction of quantities in scientific notation

follows the same rules as addition.

● The powers of ten should have the same

exponents before factoring it out and subtracting N
accordingly.

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Remember

Note that N should be a number

between 1 and 9. Move the decimal
point accordingly to follow the
standard form of the scientific
notation.

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 Let’s Practice!

Magaling, Malingap, and Masipag are three

adjacent barangays. Brgy. Magaling is 7.0 ✕ 103 m
away from Brgy. Malingap. On the other hand, the
distance between Brgy. Malingap to Brgy. Masipag
is 1.2 ✕ 103 m. What is the total distance between
Brgy. Magaling and Brgy. Masipag?

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 Let’s Practice!

Magaling, Malingap, and Masipag are three

adjacent barangays. Brgy. Magaling is 7.0 ✕ 103 m
away from Brgy. Malingap. On the other hand, the
distance between Brgy. Malingap to Brgy. Masipag
is 1.2 ✕ 103 m. What is the total distance between
Brgy. Magaling and Brgy. Masipag?

The total distance between Brgy. Malingap and Brgy.

Masipag is 8.2 ✕ 103 m.
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Try It!

Leo stored water in two large containers

containing 2.50 ✕ 104 mL and 5.10 ✕ 104
mL. He used 3.00 ✕ 104 mL to wash the
dishes and clean the kitchen
countertop. How much water was left
for his consumption?

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How do you multiply and divide
numbers in scientific notation?

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 Multiplication and Division in Scientific Notation

● To multiply quantities in scientific notation, N

and a are calculated separately.

● N are multiplied to one another while the

exponents, a, are added.

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 Multiplication and Division in Scientific Notation

Suppose you are asked to calculate the area of a field

with dimensions of 1.5 ✕ 102 m and 2.1 ✕ 104 m.

1. Begin by multiplying the N of each quantity.

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 Multiplication and Division in Scientific Notation

Suppose you are asked to calculate the area of a field

with dimensions of 1.5 ✕ 102 m and 2.1 ✕ 104 m.

2. Then add the exponents, a, of the powers of 10.

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 Multiplication and Division in Scientific Notation

Suppose you are asked to calculate the area of a field

with dimensions of 1.5 ✕ 102 m and 2.1 ✕ 104 m.

3. Combine the new N and the new exponent a of 10.

Write it in the standard form of scientific notation.

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 Multiplication and Division in Scientific Notation

Suppose you are asked to divide 2.1 ✕ 104 m by

1.5 ✕ 102 m.

1. Start by dividing N.

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 Multiplication and Division in Scientific Notation

Suppose you are asked to divide 2.1 ✕ 104 m by

1.5 ✕ 102 m.

2. Then subtract the exponent in the denominator

from the exponent in the numerator.

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 Multiplication and Division in Scientific Notation

Suppose you are asked to divide 2.1 ✕ 104 m by

1.5 ✕ 102 m.

3. Combine the new N and the new exponent a of 10.

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Remember

In multiplication involving scientific

notation, the exponents of powers
of ten are added while in division,
the exponents are subtracted.

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 Let’s Practice!

Calculate the floor area of a large conference hall

with a width of 4.20 ✕ 102 m and a length of 9.50 ✕
102 m.

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 Let’s Practice!

Calculate the floor area of a large conference hall

with a width of 4.20 ✕ 102 m and a length of 9.50 ✕
102 m.

The area of the conference hall is 3.99 ✕ 105 m2.

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Try It!

How many 1.50 ✕ 102-cm long sticks fit

in an 870 ✕ 102-cm long space?

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What is the importance of
writing quantities in correct
significant figures?

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 Significant Figures

● A significant figure (SF) is a reliably known digit.

Significant figures help in accurately reporting
values that the measurement equipment is capable
of determining.

● Significant figures is characterized by the fewest

digits used in reporting values without losing
accuracy.

● The number of significant figures increases as the

accuracy of the equipment also increases. 43
 Rules in Significant Figures

1 521.2
● Nonzero digits are always significant.

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 Rules in Significant Figures

9 202 045
● Zeros between nonzero digits are considered
significant.
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 Rules in Significant Figures

15 000.000
● Only the final zero and trailing zeros following a
decimal point are considered significant.
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 Rules in Significant Figures

0.000 000 03
● Zeros that appear before the nonzero digit are not
significant.
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How do you add and subtract
quantities using the correct
number of significant figures?

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 Significant Figures in Addition and Subtraction

● The number of significant figures in the sum or

difference is the same as that of the least accurate
measurement.

● First count the number of significant figures in the

decimal portion only of each quantity in the
problem. Simply add or subtract the numbers.

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 Significant Figures in Addition and Subtraction

● The final answer must contain the same number of

decimal places as the least accurate
measurement.

● Least accurate measurement refers to the quantity

with the least number of decimal places.

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 Let’s Practice!

What is the sum of 90 cm and 21.5 cm using the

correct significant figures?

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 Let’s Practice!

What is the sum of 90 cm and 21.5 cm using the

correct significant figures?

112 cm

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Try It!

A student measured the height of her

three plants. She got 9.2 cm, 10 cm, and
5.22 cm. What is the total length of all
the plants?

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Tips

● During calculations, it is strongly

advised to reserve the rounding off
numbers at the last step, when the
final answer has already been
calculated. This will lessen errors in
your calculations.

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How do you multiply and divide
numbers using the correct
significant figures?

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 Significant Figures in Multiplication and Division

● The number of significant figures in the product or

quotient is the same as that of the least accurate
measurement.

● Determine first the number of significant figures in

any given quantity in the problem. Simply divide
and multiply as how you do it normally.

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 Significant Figures in Multiplication and Division

● The final answer must contain the same number of

significant figures as the least accurate
measurement.

● Least accurate measurement refers to the quantity

with the least number of significant figures.

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Remember

In division and multiplication, the

final answer should have no more
significant figures than the quantity
with the least number of significant
figures.

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 Let’s Practice!

During a physics experiment, a student multiplied

the mass of an object with its acceleration to get
the force. What would be the force if the mass of
the object is 0.250 kg while its acceleration is 0.012
m/s2?

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 Let’s Practice!

During a physics experiment, a student multiplied

the mass of an object with its acceleration to get
the force. What would be the force if the mass of
the object is 0.250 kg while its acceleration is 0.012
m/s2?

0.0030 kg m/s2 or 3.0✕10-3 kg m/s2

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 Check Your Understanding

Write true if the statement is correct. Otherwise, write

false.

1. Very large and very small numbers are expressed using

significant figures.

2. Scientific notation ensures that values are reported

accurately based on the capability of the measuring
device.

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 Check Your Understanding

Write true if the statement is correct. Otherwise, write

false.

3. All expressions should have similar terms first before

adding or subtracting numbers in scientific notation.

4. In the standard form of scientific notation, N can be any

number between 1 to 100.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Scientific notation is used to express very small

and very large numbers.

● It follows a format of N ✕ 10a, where N is any

number between 1 and 9 while a can be a
negative or a positive number.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● In addition and subtraction, N are added

accordingly while the powers of 10 are factored
out. Powers of ten should have similar terms
before proceeding to addition and subtraction.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● In multiplication and division, N and a are

calculated separately. N are multiplied or divided
accordingly. Exponents a are added in
multiplication, and is subtracted in division.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● A significant figure is a reliably known digit. It is

used to accurately express the measurement
values.

● During addition and subtraction, the sum and the

difference should have the same number of
decimal places as the quantity with the least
number of decimal places.
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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● During multiplication and division, the product

and the quotient should have the same number
of significant figures as the quantity with the
fewest number of significant figures.

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 Key Formula

Concept Formula Description

Use this standard form

Scientific Notation
where: as a reference when
● N is a number writing numbers in
between 1 and 10 scientific notation.
● a is the power of
10, which can
either be a
positive or a
negative number 68
Challenge Yourself

Suppose you were asked by your

teacher to measure the length of
your book. Your classmate reported
it to be a 15.679 cm. Would you
believe the measurement of your
classmate if he only used a ruler to
measure it?
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Bibliography

Bauer, W., and Gary D. Westfall. University Physics with Modern Physics. New York: McGraw-Hill,
2013.

Faughn, Jerry S. and Raymond A. Serway. Serway’s College Physics (7th ed). Singapore: Brooks/Cole,
2006.

Knight, Randall Dewey. Physics for Scientists and Engineers: a Strategic Approach with Modern
Physics. Pearson, 2017.

Serway, Raymond A. and John W. Jewett, Jr. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics (9th
ed). USA: Brooks/Cole, 2014.

Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics with
Modern Physics (13th ed). USA: Pearson Education, 2012.

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