A Guide to the GRE/Scientific Notation
Scientific Notation
[edit | edit source]In scientific notation, move the number left of the units digit once for each power of 10, or right of the decimal point for each negative power of 10.
1.76642 x 1018 = 1,766,420,000,000,000,000
1.76642 x 10−18 = .0000000000000000176642
Scientific notation is a method of expressing very large or very small numbers. It consists of a single number multiplied by a power of 10.
Practice
[edit | edit source]1. What is 18,221 expressed in scientific notation?
2. What is 6.5438 x 1011 expressed in conventional notation?
3. Express .0000652 in scientific notation.
Answers to Practice Questions
[edit | edit source]1. 1.8221 x 104
Move the decimal place to the left of the first number, then multiply by a power of 10 for each place you slid it to the right, or by a negative power of 10 for each place you slid it to the left.
2. 654,380,000,000
Slide the decimal place to the right once for each power of ten. Add a zero if there is no number to slide.
3. 6.52 x 10-5
Move the decimal place to the left of the first number, then multiply by a power of 10 for each place you slid it to the right, or by a negative power of 10 for each place you slid it to the left.