Standard Form

with Large Numbers

Laura Boultby
www.drfrost.org
@DrFrostMaths

Contact the resource team:

[email protected]
@DrFrostResource

Dr Frost Learning is a registered

Last modified:2nd January 2025 charity in England and Wales (no
1194954)
Teacher Notes
Prerequisite
Knowledge Future Links
• Place value above the hundreds • Conversion of small numbers to and
digit. from standard form.
• Comparing and ordering positive • Calculating with numbers in standard
numbers above 100. form.
• Multiplying and dividing by 10, 100,
1000 etc. with integers and
decimals.
• Power notation and calculating
simple powers.

This lesson ensures pupils have a thorough understanding of the

connection between place value and powers before introducing the
idea of standard form.

Throughout the slides, this symbol refers to a web link.

Unless
Key: otherwise specified, this will be to some functionality
within DF.
Key Points Solution step – All slides include
click to reveal pedagogical detail in the
! To be written ‘Notes’ section for each
in books Question/Discussion slide.
Dr Frost Learning is a registered
Prompt charity in England and Wales (no
Using the Dr Frost online platform
TEACHERS STUDENTS
Generate a Start an
random independent
worksheet practice involving
involving skills in skills in this
this PowerPoint PowerPoint.
(for printing or
online task
setting).
drfrost.org/w/86 drfrost.org/p/86
0 0

Clicking this box takes you to a single question practice for a

drfrost.org/s/123a
subskill to allow you further Test Your Understanding opportunities. (e.g.
drfrost.org/s/123a)
Skills in this Lesson
301 Conversion of large numbers to and from standard form
301a Determine the smallest or largest value from numbers in standard form
301b Convert a large number to standard form.
301c Convert a large number in standard form to an ordinary number.
301d Convert a large number given in the form where to standard form.
301e Order a mixture of larger numbers given in standard form and ordinary
numbers.
Dr Frost Learning is a registered
charity in England and Wales (no
Using the Dr Frost online platform
Clicking this box takes you to a single question practice for a
drfrost.org/s/301a
subskill to allow you further Test Your Understanding opportunities. (e.g.
drfrost.org/s/301a)
Skills in this Lesson
301 Conversion of large numbers to and from standard form.
301f Order a mixture of larger numbers given in standard form, ordinary
numbers and numbers given in the form where
301g Order a mixture of numbers given in standard form with very large
powers of 10, without converting to ordinary numbers
301h Order large numbers given in standard form and written in other forms.

Dr Frost Learning is a registered

charity in England and Wales (no
How to use these slides
Though many slides in this resource will have titles specific to the topic, the slide titles in the
table below are used consistently within DFL resources for specific pedagogical purposes.
Any atypical use of a slide type, including any change of animation* or intended use, will be
outlined in the Teacher Notes for the slide.
Slide Title Explanation Default Animations*
To be used as a prior knowledge check or to review
Recap prerequisite knowledge. Can be used as a starter or as part of Green click-to-reveal boxes.
the main lesson.
To be used to highlight key concepts or theorems. This could
Usually in sequence with
The Big include the ‘why’ of the topic - including “real-life” contextual
some green click-to-reveal
Idea scenarios, or putting into context of other mathematical
boxes.
concepts (past and future).
Solution animates in
Example To be modelled by the teacher.
sequence.
Green click-to-reveal boxes.
Test Your
To be completed by students and used for Assessment for For multi-step answers,
Understandi
Learning, primarily using mini-whiteboards. reveal in parts or click final
ng
answer to reveal full solution.
To be used as ‘Example’ &‘Test Your Understanding’ above, Example animates in
To be used as ‘Example’ &‘Test Your Understanding’ above,
Example within the same slide to provide scaffold via visible modelled sequence,
Examplefollowed
animates byinTYU
Example within the same slide to provide scaffold via visible modelled
Problem solution. question with
sequence. Clickgreen click-to-
the header to
Problem solution.
Pair TYU column is blank initially, to focus attention on example. reveal boxes for solution
reveal TYU question, then
Pair TYU column is blank initially, to focus attention on example.
Reveal question by clicking ‘Test Your Understanding’ steps.
green click-to-reveal boxes.
banner.
To be used as fluency practice. Multiple questions in rapid Green click-to-reveal boxes.
Quickfire succession,
To be used for calculations
as fluency that can
practice. be completed
Multiple questions mentally.
in rapid For multi-step
Green answers,
click-to-reveal boxes.
Questions
Quickfire Often used forfor
succession, shorter questions/
calculations that formulae or to isolate
can be completed a small
mentally. reveal in parts oranswers,
For multi-step click final
Questions Often used for shorterpart of the method.
questions/ formulae or to isolate a small line toin
reveal reveal
partsfull solution.
or click final
part of the method. line to reveal full solution.
To be used as a diagnostic question. Multiple choice questions,
Multi-choice with
To be plausible
used distractors,
as a diagnostic to allow
question. teachers
Multiple
Dr Frost to diagnose
choice
Learning is questions, Arrowinpoints
a registered charity Englandto answer,
and Wales on (no
Contents
For lessons covering many concepts, please click the below to navigate
quickly to the relevant part of the lesson.

Pre-requisite Check.

Writing Numbers in Expanded Form

The Big Idea: Multiplying with Powers of Ten

Mini-Exercise 1

The Big Idea: Comparing Numbers

Exercise 2

The Big Idea: Standard Form

Exercise 3

The Big Idea: Changing Numbers not in Standard Form

Exercise 4

Dr Frost Learning is a registered

charity in England and Wales (no
 Show

Prerequisite Check
all
solutio
ns

1 Calculate the 2 Calculate the

following. following.
a ¿ 𝟗𝟎𝟎𝟎
9 × 1000 ? a 98000 ÷ 1000
¿ 𝟗𝟖
?

b ¿ 𝟏𝟖𝟎𝟎
1 8 × 100 ? b 82000 ÷ 100 ?
¿ 𝟖𝟐𝟎
c 7 .2 × 1000 ?
¿ 𝟕𝟐𝟎𝟎 c 700 ÷ 10 ?
¿ 𝟕𝟎
d ¿ 𝟖𝟑
8 .3 × 10 ? d ¿ 𝟏𝟐
12300 ÷ 1000 ? .𝟑

e ¿ 𝟔𝟗𝟎
6.9 × 100 ? e ¿𝟒
45 ÷ 10 ? .𝟓

f 2 3.45 ×1000 ¿0𝟐𝟑𝟒

? 𝟓𝟎𝟎 f ¿ 𝟏𝟐
1270 ÷ 100 ? .𝟕

3 Write each number in expanded form and then evaluate.

a ¿ 4 × 4?× 4
4
3
¿ ?𝟔𝟒 ¿ 10 ×10
c 10 4
¿ 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎
? × 10 ×10 ?

b ¿ 2 ×2
2
5
2 ?𝟑𝟐
?× 2× 2׿ ¿1
d 5 𝟓
?
Recap: Place Value
Represent the number using place value tokens

5 6 2 3
Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones

Number
Place value
tokens 1000 1000 1000 100 100 100 10 10 1 1 1
Expanded 1000 1000 100 100 100
Form
5 ×1000 6 × 100 2 × 10 3 ×1

This means we can write in expanded form as:

Test Your Understanding
Represent each number using place value tokens then write them in
expanded form.
Ten
Thousan
Thousan Hundreds Tens Ones

1 4 2 3
ds
ds
Number

Place value
1000 100 100 10 10 111
tokens 100 100
Expanded
Form 1 ×1000 4 × 100 2 × 10 3 × 1

2 3 6 1 4
𝟏𝟒𝟐𝟑=𝟏 ×𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎+𝟒?×𝟏𝟎𝟎+𝟐× 𝟏𝟎+𝟑 ×𝟏
Number

Place value 11
tokens 10,000 10,000 1000 1000 1000 100 100 100 10
100 100 100 11
Expanded
Form 2 ×10 00 0 3 ×1000 6 × 100 1 × 10 4 ×1
𝟐𝟑𝟔𝟏𝟒=𝟐×𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎+𝟑×𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎+𝟔×𝟏𝟎𝟎+𝟏×
? 𝟏𝟎+𝟒× 𝟏
 Show

Matching Activity: Powers of Ten all

solutio
ns

Find all the matching ?

groups.
10 ×10 × 10 100 10 1 0 000
2
10 10
1

4
10 10
3
10 × 10

Write the missing part for each

set.
a 10 000 ¿ 𝟏𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎?×𝟏𝟎 ×𝟏𝟎 ¿ 10
4

b 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
? ¿ 10 ×10 × 10 ¿ 10
3

c 1 000 000 ¿ 10 ×10 × 10 ×10 ×10 × 10 ?

¿ 𝟏𝟎
𝟔
Gap Fill Activity
2
We know 100 =10 and: 1000=103
that:
This means we can write our place value columns in a different
? way. ? What will the other values be?

6 5 4 3 2 1 0
¿ 10 ¿ 10 ¿ 10
? ¿ 10 ¿ 10 ¿ 10
? ¿ 10
?

Remember: Anything to the power zero

equals
What happens to the value of a
How is this reflected in the
digit if it moves one place to the
powers?
left?
A digit becomes ten times The power of increases by one
greater in value
? each time it when the digit? moves one
moves one place to the left. place to the left.
The Big Idea: Multiplying with Powers of Show
all
solutio
Ten ns

Now we know powers of ten we can answer questions like

3 these:
9 ×10 =9 ×1000=9000

1 Calculate the
following.
a ¿ 1 5 ×10
15 × 10
4
? 𝟏𝟓𝟎
0¿00 ? 𝟎𝟎𝟎 ¿ 𝟔𝟑
b 6 .3 × 10¿ 6 .3?× 1000
3
? 𝟎

c ¿ 8 .3
8 .3 × 10
1
¿ 𝟖𝟑
? × 10 ? d 6 2.9 ×10¿ 6 2.9 ¿ 𝟔𝟐𝟗
? ×1002
?

2 Write the missing part for each

calculation.
a 5 × 10
3
¿𝟓×
? 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 ¿ 5000

b 𝟐𝟑. 𝟒𝟓×𝟏𝟎
?
𝟒
¿ 2 3.45 ×10 00 0 ¿ 234 500
9.515 × 10 ¿ 9 .515 ×100 0 0 0¿ 𝟗𝟓𝟏
? 𝟓𝟎𝟎
5
c
The Big Idea: Place Value using Powers of
Ten.
Represent the number using power tokens.

Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones

5 6 2 3
3 2 1 0
10 10 10 10
Number

Place value
tokens 1000 1000 1000 100 100 100 10 10 1 1 1
Expanded
Form 1000 1000 100 100 100
Power tokens 5 ×1000 6 × 100 2 × 10 3 ×1
3 2 2
Expanded
Form
3
10 10 10
3
10 10 10 2 1
10 10
1
10
0
10 10
0 0

2 2
3
10 10
3
10 10 10 2
3 2 1 0
5 × 10 6 × 10 2 × 10 3 × 10
 Show

Gap Fill Activity all

solutio
ns

Fill in the gaps and write each number in expanded form using powers
of
Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones

2 5 1 4
3 2 1 0
10 10 10 10
Number
Power tokens 2 2
10
3
10
3
10 10 10 2 10
1
10
0
10
0

Expanded 2
?2 0
? 0
Form
10 10 10 10
3 2 1 0
2 × ?10 5 × 10 1 × 10 ?
4 × 10
?
Number

Power tokens 3 3 3 2 2 0 0 0 0
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 ?10 10
1 1 1

3 3 3
? 0 0 0
Expanded 10 10 10 10 10 10
Form
3 2 1 0
6 × 10 2 ×?10 3 ×? 10 7 × 10
?
 Method Discussion
Logan and Viktor are discussing how to answer this question:

Write in expanded form using powers of ten.

This could be written as:

Logan

But we can also use index form:

Viktor

These are both valid ways to write a number in expanded

form but sometimes we may be required to write it in index
form.
Example Test Your
Understanding
Write in expanded form using Write in expanded form using
powers of ten in index form. powers of ten in index form.

3 0 000¿ 3 × 10 000¿ 3 × 104 1 00 ¿ 1 ×100

? 000 ? 000¿ 1 ?× 10
5

5 000 ¿ 5 × 1000 ¿ 5 ×10

3
4 0?000¿ 4 ×10
? 000¿ 4 ?× 10 4
6 00¿ 6 × 100 ¿ 6 × 10
2
5?000¿ 5 ×?1000¿ 5 ×10
? 3

20 ¿ 2 × 10 ¿ 2 ×10
1
9
? 00¿ 9 ×? 100¿ 9 ×? 102
4 ¿ 4 ×1 ¿ 4 ×10
0
?20 ¿2× ? 10¿ 2 ×10
? 1

? 1 ¿ 1 ?× 1¿ 1 ×10? 0

?
 Method Discussion
Logan and Viktor are discussing how to answer a different question:

Write in expanded form using powers of ten.

This could be written as:

Logan
Aren’t you missing a power of ten? I think it should be:

Viktor
Who do you think is
correct?

They are both correct, but it isn’t necessary to

represent the as a power of . However, we need to
check carefully to ensure we include any zeroes when
changing from expanded form to ordinary numbers.
Example Test Your
Understanding
Write the following as an ordinary Write the following as an ordinary
number: number:

¿ 8 × 10 000¿ 80 000
8 × 10
4
¿ 2 ×100
? 10
2× ?5
¿ 200? 000
000
¿ 33 × 1000
3 × 10 ¿3000 3× ¿3×
? 10
4
? 000 ¿ 30?000
10
¿ 22 × 100
2 × 10 ¿ 200 0×
3
¿ 0 ×? 1000
? 10 ¿ 0?
¿15 × 10
5 × 10 ¿ 50 9×
2
¿9×
? 10 ? 100 ¿ 900?
¿0 7 × 1
7 × 10 ¿7 ¿1 2 ?× 10¿ 20?
? 10
2×
¿0 6? × 1
? 10
6× ¿ 6?

?
Example Test Your
Understanding
Write the following as an ordinary Write the following as an ordinary
number: number:

¿ 4 ×1 00 0 00
4 × 10
6
¿ 4000
0 000 2× ¿ 2 ×100000
? 10 ?
5
¿ 200?000
¿ 34 × 10 00 0 ¿30 000
3 × 10 1×
? 10
3
¿ 1 ×?1000¿1000?
¿ 32 × 1000 ¿2000
2 × 10 ¿9×
? 10 2
¿ 900?
? 100
9×
¿ 25 × 100 ¿ 500
5 × 10
? 10
6× ¿ 6?
¿0 6?× 1
¿17 × 10 ¿ 70
7 × 10
There are some powers of
missing, we must ensure we
?
represent these with zeroes when
writing the number out in full.
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

1 Write the following in expanded form using powers of ten.

a 2368 ?
b 14 076 ?
c 742 624 ?
2 Write the following as ordinary
numbers.
a ¿ 𝟐𝟕 , 𝟑𝟓𝟏
?
b ¿ 𝟏𝟐𝟑 ,𝟎𝟒𝟎
?
c ¿𝟕, 𝟖𝟎𝟏,
? 𝟑𝟔𝟕

3 Write the correct symbol , for each box

a 3024 ≠? 3 × 1000+2 ×100+4 × 10 c ? ×1000 +1 ×100+ 4 × 1

5104=5
3 1 0 2 1 0
b 3 ×10 +2 ×10 + 4 × 10 ?=3024 d 5 ×10 + 1× 10 + 4 ×10 ? ≠ 5104
The Big Idea: Comparing Numbers
Hannah and Imani have been working on this question as part of their
homework.
Which is larger? or

Hannah Imani

Who do you agree

with?
4 3
5 ×10 =5 ×10 000=50 000 6 ×10 =6 × 1000=6000
Imani is correct, if we write each number in expanded
form, we can see that is larger than .

We don’t need to write them in expanded form if the

starting numbers have the same place value, but if they
have different powers of ten, the one with the larger power
is the bigger number.
The Big Idea: Comparing Numbers
Hannah and Imani have another question to complete for their
homework.
Which is larger? or

.
Imani

Hannah
Who do you agree
with?
Thousan Hundred Hundredt
Tens Ones Tenths

6 3 7
ds s hs

6.37 × 10
2
6 3 7
5 3
5.3 ×10
3
5 3 0 0
Hannah is correct, we can see this from the place value table.
Spot the Mistake

Viktor is explaining which is I think that the number

smaller: . with the largest power
Can you explain what he has is bigger so must be
done wrong?
smaller than
Viktor
Viktor has only looked at the powers, he hasn’t
compared the place value of the other numbers.
Hundred
Thousan Hundred
Thousan Tens Ones
ds s

2 9 3 8
ds

2938 ×10
2
2 9 3 8 0 0
3
3 × 10
4 3 0 0 0 0
starts in the column and moves places to the left whereas
starts in the column and moves places to the left.

We need to consider both the powers and the place

value when comparing and ordering numbers.
The Big Idea: Comparing Numbers
Which is larger? or Which is larger? or

The starting numbers have the same Both numbers have the same power
place value so we can compare the of ten, so compare the place value of
powers. the initial numbers.

4
10 >10
3
6.2>3.6
is larger. is larger.

Which is larger? or Which is larger? or

The starting numbers have the same Both the place value of the original
place value (even though they have numbers and the powers are
a different number of digits) so we different. Use a place value table or
can compare the powers. write as an ordinary number to
2
compare.
2
10 >10
1
3 2 6 ×10 =326 ×100=32 600
4
is larger. 1.38 ×10 =1.38 ×10000=13 800
is larger.
 Show

Test Your Understanding all

solutio
ns

For each pair of numbers, decide which is larger.

a or f or

𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎?
𝟔
?
Neither - they are
or equal.
or
b g

𝟒 . 𝟏 ×𝟏𝟎? ?
𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎
𝟒

c or h or
𝟑 𝟓
𝟐 𝟓 .𝟐 ×𝟏𝟎? 𝟕 . 𝟑× 𝟏𝟎?
d or i or

𝟖 . 𝟒 ×𝟏𝟎? ?
𝟖𝟕𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎
𝟔

e or j or
𝟑 𝟐
𝟕 . 𝟓𝟔𝟓×𝟏𝟎? 𝟗 . 𝟔𝟐 ×𝟏𝟎
?
Numbers with the same place value – compare power of ten. Hint?
Numbers with the same power of ten - compare the place
value.
Place value and powers are different - compare as ordinary
numbers
Method Discussion
Maria and Logan are discussing which method they would use
to answer this question.
Put the following in ascending order.

I am going to write
them as ordinary I am going to
compare the
numbers, then powers.
compare them. Logan
Maria

Why do the students have the numbers in different

orders?
Logan has only compared the powers and not
considered the place value of the initial numbers.
We need to use Maria’s method to ensure we order
the numbers correctly.
Example Test Your
Understanding
Put the following in ascending Put the following in ascending
order. order.

Write each number in as an ordinary Write each number in as an ordinary

number. number.
3 .17 × 10¿ 3. 17 ×1000 ¿ 3170 5.28 ×10¿ 5.28 ×10
? 00 0 ¿ 52 800
3 4

52 × 10¿ 52 ×1000 ¿ 5 2000 63 × 10¿ 63 ×?1000 ¿ 63 000

3 3

4 1 .1 ×10¿ 41.1× 100 ¿ 411 0 8 27 × 10¿ 827 ?×100 ¿ 82 700

2 2

6 × 10 ¿ 6 × 10 000 ¿ 60 000 7 .2 × 10¿ 7.2 ×10

? 000 ¿ 72 000
4 4

Write the numbers in ascending Write the numbers in ascending

order. order.
?

When ordering you can use the

drfrost.org/ 301a
original format, or the conversions s/
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 2 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

1 Put the following in ascending 2 Put the following in descending

order. order.
¿ 780 000 ¿ 236 000
¿ 333 ?000 ?
¿ 9 450? 000 ?
¿ 926 000 ¿ 707 000
¿ 5 100 000 ¿ 430 000

3 Use inequality notation to show which number is larger.

7 8 7 6
a 26 × 10? <7 × 10 c 32 . 5× 10? > 4 1 ×10
3 5
b 9.125 × 10
4
?> 40 . 01 ×10
3 d 5 28 ×10 ? >5 .1 ×10
4 [Edexcel Nov 19 P3H Q7(c)]
Asma was asked to compare the following two numbers.
and
She says, “ is bigger than so is bigger than .”
Is Asma correct?
No, although we know
So, is bigger than . ?
The Big Idea: Standard Form
Nathan and Abdi are discussing how far it is between different planets
in our solar system.
Did you know that it is km between Mercury and
Neptune?

The distance between Venus and

Abdi Earth is only km.

That means Mercury and

Nathan
Neptune are times further
apart than Venus and Earth. I don’t think that’s right –
Oh, I forgot to consider the
place value of the first
numbers! This is too It’s only 100 times as far.
confusing.

This would be easier if we use standard

form.

Professor Cheng
The Big Idea: Standard Form
What’s standard form?

Standard form is a way to write very

large and very small numbers and can
Nathan make them easier to deal with.
Professor Cheng

Standard form means writing a number

as:

Where and is an integer.

So, is already in standard form but isn’t
as isn’t between and

And in standard form the place value of the

initial numbers is always the same. That
means can just compare the powers. That’s
much easier!

Abdi
Example Test Your
Understanding
Are these numbers in standard Are these numbers in standard
form? form?
3 4
a 14 × 10 a 2.632 × 10
Yes, and is an integer
?
No,

0.1
b 7.2 × 10
8 b 8.42 × 10
Yes, and is an No, is not a
integer. ?
whole number

0.5
c 2.3 × 10 c 0. 745 × 10
6

No, is not a whole No, ?

number

Standard form means writing a number

as:
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 301c
s/

Earlier we did this question:

We now know this is standard form so we can use the same method
to change numbers from standard form to ordinary numbers.
3 4
1 5 × 10 2 8 × 10
3
5 × 10 =5?× 1000 4
8 × 10 =8?× 10 000
3
5 × 10 =𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎
?
4
8 × 10 =𝟖𝟎
? 𝟎𝟎𝟎
6 5
3 4.632 ×10 4 3.47 × 10
6 5
4.632× 10 =4.632
? ×1 000 000 3 .47 × 10 =3.47
? ×100 000
6 5
4.632× 10 =𝟒 ? 𝟔𝟑𝟐 𝟎𝟎𝟎 3.47 × 10?=𝟑𝟒𝟕 𝟎𝟎𝟎
2 3
5 1.245 ×10 6 6.8102 ×10
2 3
1.245 ×10 =1.245
? ×100 6.8102 ×10 ?=6.8102 ×1000
2 3
1.245 × 10? =𝟏𝟐𝟒 .𝟓 ? =𝟔𝟖𝟏𝟎 .𝟐
6.8102 ×10
 Show

Recap: Significance all

solutio
ns

The first significant figure in a

number is the digit that gives 35 428 is the first significant figure.

the place value of the overall It′s place value is ten thousands.
number.
Give the first significant figure and its place value for:

1 2 2 326 3 6248
?
Ones
?
Hundreds
?
Thousands

4 70 090 5 5.96 6 12.00007

?
Ten
Ones
? Ten
?
Thousands

When we write a number in standard form, the power of

is decided by the place value of the first significant
figure.
Therefore, the first significant figure will always
be in the ones column when written in standard
form.
Example Test Your
Understanding
Change into standard form. Change into standard form.

The first significant

The first significant figure will be in the The first significant
ones column when figure is ?
figure is
written in standard
form.
When we write a
Its place value is so number in standard Its place value is so
form, the power of 10
the power of will be the ?power of will be
is decided by the
place value first ?
significant figure.

? 𝟓
20 000=𝟐 ×𝟏𝟎
𝟒
30 0 000=𝟑× 𝟏𝟎

drfrost.org/ 301b
s/
Spot the Mistake.
Hannah is changing into standard form but she has made a mistake.

is when written in standard

form.

Can you explain what Hannah has done

Hannah wrong?
Hannah has forgotten that must be between and to be written in
standard form. So, the first significant figure should be in the ones
column.
So, it is Do you agree with Hannah?

Hannah is incorrect. She was trying to show but her value is only
𝟓
What is the correct answer? 𝟒 . 𝟐𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎

Oh I see, I should put a decimal point after the first

significant figure, so it’s not
Example Test Your
Understanding
Change into standard form. Change into standard form.

The first significant The first significant

figure will be in the The first significant
figure is ones column when figure is ?
written in standard
form.
Its place value is so When we write a Its place value is
number in standard ?so the power of
the power of will be
form, the power of 10
is decided by the will be ?
place value first
significant figure.
𝟒 𝟐
17 500=𝟏 . 𝟕𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎 4 5 8.2=𝟒 .?𝟓𝟖𝟐× 𝟏𝟎

drfrost.org/ 301b
s/
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 3 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

1 Change nto an ordinary 2 Change each number into

number. standard form.

5 × 10 ¿ 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎 7000
3 𝟑
a ? a ¿ 𝟕 ×? 𝟏𝟎
𝟒
7 × 10 ¿ 𝟕 𝟎𝟎𝟎
? 𝟎𝟎𝟎 80 000
6
b b ¿ 𝟖 ×? 𝟏𝟎
𝟏
c 3 × 10 ¿ 𝟑𝟎
1
? c 50
¿ 𝟓 ×? 𝟏𝟎
𝟒
d 6 .73 × 10¿ 𝟔𝟕? 𝟑𝟎𝟎
4
d 62 000
¿ 𝟔 . 𝟐×
? 𝟏𝟎
𝟔
e 8 .212 × 10¿ 𝟖𝟐 𝟏𝟐𝟎
7
? 𝟎𝟎𝟎 e 4 763 000
¿ 𝟒 . 𝟕𝟔𝟑
? × 𝟏𝟎
𝟓
f 1 .23 × 10¿ 𝟏𝟐𝟑𝟎
3
? f 117 000
¿ 𝟏 . 𝟏𝟕
? ×𝟏𝟎
g 7 .438 × 10¿ 𝟕𝟒𝟑
2
? .𝟖 g 225.38
¿ 𝟐 . 𝟐𝟓𝟑𝟖×𝟏𝟎
? 𝟐

h 1.2505 × 10¿ 𝟏𝟐𝟓𝟎

3
? .𝟓 h 9450.1 ?
¿ 𝟗 . 𝟒𝟓𝟎𝟏× 𝟏𝟎
𝟑

5.60974 × 10¿ 𝟓𝟔 𝟎𝟗𝟕 .𝟒

4 Four million, three thousand
i ? i
¿ 4 003? 00 0
𝟔
¿ 𝟒 . 𝟎𝟎𝟑
? × 𝟏𝟎
 Method Discussion
Mrs Clark has set her students this question:
How many ways can you find to represent
using powers of ten or index form?

Mrs Clark
3000 ×100
𝟏
𝟏𝟎 or 𝟏𝟎 Nathan
3 ×10 000 Maria 11
2
0.0000003 × 10
30 × 10 Basma
𝟑
𝟏𝟎 or 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 4
5 3 × 10
0.3 × 10
Logan
Hannah Abdi
Whose answers are
correct?
What power of ten should the incorrect answers
have?
The Big Idea: Changing Numbers not in
Standard Form
Do we need to convert it to an
Convert into standard form.
ordinary number every time? I
4 think I’ve spotted a faster
5 0 × 10 =50 ×10 000=500 000
𝟓 way…
¿ 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎
I’ll show you using a
place value table first.
Convert into standard form.

Ten
thousan
thousan hundred
tens ones
We can’t have
ds s more than one Imani
ds
4 3 2 1 0 digit in each
10 10 10 10 10 column, so we
37 0 0 need to move
0 the three across.
3 7 0 0 0
By changing to the
becomes when written in standard form power has changed from
because the power of ten is decided by the to
place value of the first significant figure.
Example Test Your
Understanding
Change into standard form. Convert into standard form.

First, change into standard form. First, change into standard form.
2 1
425=4.25 ×10 32 =3.2
? × 10

Then, multiply by the original Then, multiply by the original

power of ten. power of ten.

2 3 1 2
4.25 ×10 ×10 3.2×
? 10 × 10

Finally, combine the powers of ten Finally, combine the powers of ten
into a single power. into a single power.

𝟓 𝟑
¿ 𝟒 . 𝟐𝟓 ×𝟏𝟎 ¿ 𝟑 . 𝟐×? 𝟏𝟎

drfrost.org/ 301d
s/
 Show

Test Your Understanding all

solutio
ns

Convert each of the following into standard

form.

3 4
1 7 0 × 10 2 2 00 × 10
1 3 2 4
¿ 7 × 10 ?× 10 ¿ 2 × 10? × 10
𝟒 𝟔
¿ 𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎 ? ¿ 𝟐 ×𝟏𝟎 ?
6 5
3 3 6 . 2 ×10 4 547 × 10
1 6
¿ 3.62 ×10 ?×10 ? 10 × 10
¿ 5 .47 ×
2 5

𝟕
¿ 𝟑 . 𝟔𝟐
? × 𝟏𝟎 ?
¿ 𝟓 . 𝟒𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎 𝟕
2 3
5 1245 ×10 6 68102 ×10
3 2 4 3
¿ 1.245 ×? 10 × 10 ¿ 6.8102?× 10 × 10
¿ 𝟏 . 𝟐𝟒𝟓
? × 𝟏𝟎
𝟓
¿ 𝟔 . 𝟖𝟏𝟎𝟐
? × 𝟏𝟎 𝟕
Method Selection
Basma and Abdi are discussing
how to order the following set of
Basma numbers: Abdi

I think it will be easier to

I’m going to change all the numbers
change them all into
into ordinary numbers first.
standard form.
¿ 65 0 000 ¿ 6. 5 × 104
5

¿ 68 000 ¿ 6. 8 × 10 5
¿ 631 200 ¿ 6. 312 ×105
¿ 613 000 ¿ 6. 13 ×10
What’s the correct order? Whose list did you use and why?
,,

Although either method could be used for the set of

numbers on this slide, there may be times when it is not
practical to change all the values into ordinary numbers.
Example Test Your
Understanding
Using your preferred method, put Using your preferred method, put
the following in ascending order. the following in ascending order.

5 4 4 4
66 000 , 6.25× 10 , 6.8 ×10 , 617 000 5 .25 ×10 , 51500 , 5.3 ×10 , 54 321

Original Ordinary Standard Original Ordinary Standard

value number form value number form
4
6.6 × 10 52 ?500
4
625 000 5.15 ?×10
68 000 53 ?000
5 4
6.17 × 10 5.4321? ×10

𝟒 𝟓 𝟒 𝟒
𝟔𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟎 ,𝟔.𝟖×𝟏𝟎 ,𝟔𝟏𝟕𝟎𝟎𝟎 ,𝟔.𝟐𝟓×𝟏𝟎 𝟓𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎 ,𝟓.𝟐𝟓×𝟏𝟎 ?,𝟓.𝟑× 𝟏𝟎 ,𝟓𝟒𝟑𝟐𝟏

drfrost.org/ 301e
s/
Example Test Your
Understanding
Using your preferred method, put Using your preferred method, put
the following in ascending order. the following in ascending order.

5 4 5 4
42300 , 4.84 × 10 , 44.4 × 10 , 40404 56 000 ,2.9 ×10 ,17.2 ×10 , 154 000

Original Ordinary Standard Original Ordinary Standard

value number form value number form
4 4
4.23 × 10 5.6 ×10
?
484 000 290 000
?
444 0004.44 ×10 5 172 000
? 1.72?×10
5

4 5
4.0404 ×10 1 .54?×10
𝟒 𝟓
𝟒
𝟒𝟎𝟒𝟎𝟒 ,𝟒𝟐𝟑𝟎𝟎 ,𝟒𝟒.𝟒×𝟏𝟎 ,𝟒.𝟖𝟒×𝟏𝟎
𝟓
𝟓𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟎 ,𝟏𝟓𝟒 𝟎𝟎𝟎,𝟏𝟕.𝟐×
? 𝟏𝟎 ,𝟐.𝟗×𝟏𝟎

drfrost.org/ 301f
s/
Example
Put the following in ascending
order.
33 34 33 33
48.4 ×10 , 4.4 × 10 , 596 ×10 ,8.2 ×10
I don’t think my method of changing to ordinary
numbers is very useful here.
We should use standard form instead.

First, change all the numbers into standard Basma

form.
33 34
48.4 ×10¿ 4.84 × 10
34 34
4.4 × 10¿ 4.4 ×10
596 × 10¿ 5.96 × 103 5
33

33
8.2 ×10 ¿ 8.2 × 10 3 3
Compare the powers and, where necessary, use place value to
compare numbers with the same power.
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 301g
s/
301h

Put the following in ascending order.

56 58 56 57
a 475 × 10 , 8.61 × 10 , 33 × 10 , 82 × 10
56 58
475 × 10 ?¿ 4.75 × 10
58 58
8.61 × 10?¿ 8.61 ×10
56 57
33 × 10 ?¿ 3.3 × 10 ?
57
82 × 10 ?¿ 8.2 × 10 58

41 43 42 42
b 22.6 × 10 ,2 .61 × 10 , 2 3 × 10 , 2.8 × 10
41 42
22.6 × 10 ?¿ 2.26 × 10
43 43
2 .61× 10? ¿ 2.61 ×10
42 43
2 3 × 10 ?¿ 2.3 × 10
?
42 42
2.8 × 10 ?¿ 2.8 × 10
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 4 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

1 By writing each number in standard form, decide which of these

has the greatest value.
3.15 ×10
4
31499 3.2 × 10 3 31.6 × 103 Greatest?
𝟒
? ×𝟏𝟎 𝟒¿ 𝟑 . 𝟏𝟒𝟗𝟗×𝟏𝟎
¿ 𝟑 . 𝟏𝟓 ? 𝟒 ? 𝟏𝟎𝟑
¿ 𝟑 . 𝟐× ¿ 𝟑 . 𝟏𝟔
? ×𝟏𝟎
2 By writing each number in standard form, decide which of these
has the least value
74 72 70 71
7.42 ×10 72.3 ×10 738 ×10 75.45 ×10 Least?
𝟕𝟒 𝟕𝟑 𝟕𝟐 𝟕𝟐
¿ 𝟕 . 𝟒𝟐 ? ×𝟏𝟎¿ 𝟕 . 𝟑𝟖?×𝟏𝟎 ¿ 𝟕 . 𝟓𝟒𝟓
? ×𝟏𝟎 ¿ 𝟕 . 𝟐𝟑 ? ×𝟏𝟎

3 Write each number in standard form then put the numbers in

ascending order.
522 ×10 𝟑 . 𝟖𝟏 ×𝟏𝟎𝟔𝟑
6 𝟔 63
a 8.1 × 10 𝟖 . 𝟏× 𝟏𝟎 b
7 𝟔 63 𝟔𝟒
7.99 ×10 𝟖 . 𝟐𝟔𝟒𝟑×𝟏 𝟎 3.81 ×10 𝟏 . 𝟐× 𝟏𝟎
𝟔𝟒
8264300 𝟖 . 𝟑×?𝟏𝟎𝟔 64
64.5 ×10 𝟒 . 𝟐𝟗? ×𝟏𝟎
𝟕 𝟔𝟓
81.65 × 10 𝟕6. 𝟗𝟗×𝟏𝟎 0.429 ×10 𝟓
65
. 𝟐𝟐×𝟏𝟎
𝟔𝟓
0.83 × 10
7
𝟖 . 𝟏𝟔𝟓 ×𝟏𝟎 𝟕
12 × 10
63
𝟔 . 𝟒𝟓 ×𝟏𝟎
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 4 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

4 [Edexcel June 17 P2H Q10 (adapted)]

The table shows some information about eight planets.

Write the planets in ascending order according to their

size.
Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth, ? Uranus, Neptune, Saturn,
Jupiter.