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, typically in the form a x 10^n, where 1 ≤ a < 10 and n is an integer.

Front

How do you convert a number to scientific notation?

Back

Move the decimal point in the number until only one non-zero digit remains to the left. Count the number of places moved; this becomes the exponent of 10.

Front

Convert 0.0005 to scientific notation.

Back

5 x 10^-4

Front

Convert 23400 to scientific notation.

Back

2.34 x 10^4

Front

What is the common notation for 7.89 x 10^-8?

Back

0.0000000789

Front

How many significant figures are in 4.56 x 10^3?

Back

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 portion.

Front

Multiply (2.45 x 10^4) x (8.78 x 10^6) and express in scientific notation.

Back

2.15 x 10^11

Front

What is the rule for adding numbers in scientific notation?

Back

Align the exponents; convert to the same exponent if necessary, then add the coefficients.

Front

What is the rule for multiplying numbers in scientific notation?

Back

Multiply the coefficients and add the exponents.