12.2 Scientific Notation and Significant Figures

Front

What is scientific notation?

Back

A method of expressing numbers as a product of a coefficient and a power of 10, e.g., 6.02 x 10^23.

Front

How do you multiply numbers in scientific notation?

Back

Multiply the coefficients and add the exponents. Example: (2.0 x 10^3) * (3.0 x 10^2) = 6.0 x 10^(3+2) = 6.0 x 10^5.

Front

How do you divide numbers in scientific notation?

Back

Divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents. Example: (6.0 x 10^5) / (2.0 x 10^2) = 3.0 x 10^(5-2) = 3.0 x 10^3.

Front

What are significant figures?

Back

Digits in a number that contribute to its precision, including all non-zero digits, zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in the decimal part.

Front

How many significant figures are in 0.00456?

Back

Three significant figures: 4, 5, and 6.

Front

How many significant figures are in 100.0?

Back

Four significant figures: 1, 0, 0, and the trailing zero after the decimal.

Front

What is the result of (6.02 x 10^23) * (8.18)?

Back

4.92 x 10^24.

Front

What is the result of (9.83 x 10^12) / (1.2750 x 10^27)?

Back

1.25 x 10^40.

Front

What is the result of (7.8565 x 10^47) * (2.40 x 10^34)?

Back

1.89 x 10^82.

Front

What is the result of (0.986) / (2.25 x 10^2)?

Back

4.38 x 10^-3.