Scientific Notation Word Problems

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What is scientific notation?

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Scientific notation is a way of expressing numbers that are too large or too small to be conveniently written in decimal form. It is typically in the form of a x 10^n, where 1 ≤ a < 10 and n is an integer.

Front

How do you add numbers in scientific notation?

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To add numbers in scientific notation, they must have the same exponent. If they do not, adjust one or both numbers to have the same exponent, then add the coefficients.

Front

How do you subtract numbers in scientific notation?

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To subtract numbers in scientific notation, they must have the same exponent. If they do not, adjust one or both numbers to have the same exponent, then subtract the coefficients.

Front

How do you multiply numbers in scientific notation?

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To multiply numbers in scientific notation, multiply the coefficients and add the exponents. The result will also be in scientific notation.

Front

How do you divide numbers in scientific notation?

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To divide numbers in scientific notation, divide the coefficients and subtract the exponent of the denominator from the exponent of the numerator. The result will also be in scientific notation.

Front

What is the purpose of using scientific notation in calculations?

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Scientific notation simplifies calculations with very large or very small numbers, making it easier to read, write, and compute.

Front

What is the significance of the exponent in scientific notation?

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The exponent in scientific notation indicates the power of ten by which the coefficient is multiplied, determining the scale of the number.

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How do you convert a number from standard form to scientific notation?

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To convert a number from standard form to scientific notation, move the decimal point to create a number between 1 and 10, and count the number of places moved to determine the exponent.

Front

What is the relationship between the mass of the sun and the earth in scientific notation?

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The mass of the sun (1.989 x 10^30 kg) is approximately 333,000 times the mass of the earth (5.98 x 10^24 kg), calculated by dividing the two masses.

Front

How do you find the total amount when adding two quantities in scientific notation?

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To find the total amount when adding two quantities in scientific notation, ensure both quantities have the same exponent, then add the coefficients.