Semester 1 - Scientific Notation Notes

Scientific notation is a way to write really big or really small numbers in a shorter, cleaner form. These notes explain what scientific notation is, how to convert numbers into it, and how to change them back to normal form. It’s a fast, easy guide for homework, quizzes, or when you just need a quick refresher.

Ishaa

1/25/20261 min read

What is Scientific Notation?

  • Scientific Notation is an abbreviation for really big/really small numbers

  • It's often used in math or science

Why do we use it?

  • 25,300,000,000,000 miles is distance of the closest star.

    • It's really tedious to write this entire number out

    • In Scientific Notation this number is 2.53e13 miles

Steps to solve (Converting Normal Numbers to Scientific Notation):

  1. Move the decimal point until there's only one digit before it

  2. Write the new number with the decimal in its new position and eliminate all 0s for now

  3. Write the new decimal as value times

  4. Write the number of times you moved the decimal place as an exponent above 10

Steps to solve (Converting Scientific Notation to Normal Numbers):

  1. Positive Exponent -> Move to the right

  2. Negative Exponent -> Move to the left

Tips to Remember:

Moving the decimal to the left -> Exponent goes up

Moving the decimal to the right -> Exponent goes down

Example:

Credits: Ms. Garcia Math

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