ScientiIic notation is simply a method Ior expressing, and working with, very large or

very small numbers. It is a short hand method Ior writing numbers, and an easy
method Ior calculations. Numbers in scientiIic notation are made up oI three parts:
the coeIIicient, the base and the exponent. Observe the example below:
5.67 x 10
5

This is the scientiIic notation Ior the standard number, 567 000. Now look at the
number again, with the three parts labeled.
5.67 x 10
5

coeIIicient base exponent

In order Ior a number to be in correct scientiIic notation, the Iollowing conditions
must be true:
1. The coefficient must be greater than or equal to 1 and less than 10.
2. The base must be 10.
3. The exponent must show the number oI decimal places that the decimal needs to be
moved to change the number to standard notation. A negative exponent means that
the decimal is moved to the leIt when changing to standard notation.


Changing numbers from scientific notation to standard
notation.
Ex.1 Change 6.03 x 10
7
to standard notation.
remember, 10
7
10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 10 000 000
so, 6.03 x 10
7
6.03 x 10 000 000 60 300 000
answer 60 300 000
Instead oI Iinding the value oI the base, we can simply move the decimal seven places
to the right because the exponent is 7.
$o, 6.03 x 10
7
60 300 000

Now let us try one with a negative exponent.
Ex.2 Change 5.3 x 10
-4
to standard notation.
The exponent tells us to move the decimal four places to the left.
so, 5.3 x 10
-4
0.00053

Changing numbers from standard notation to scientific
notation
Ex.1 Change 56 760 000 000 to scientific notation
Remember, the decimal is at the end of the final zero.
The decimal must be moved behind the five to ensure that the coefficient is less
than 10, but greater than or equal to one.
The coefficient will then read 5.676
The decimal will move 10 places to the left, making the exponent equal to 10.
Answer equals 5.676 x 10
10


Now we try a number that is very small.
Ex.2 Change 0.000000902 to scientific notation
The decimal must be moved behind the 9 to ensure a proper coefficient.
The coefficient will be 9.02
The decimal moves seven spaces to the right, making the exponent -7
Answer equals 9.02 x 10
-7


Calculating with $cientific Notation
Not only does scientiIic notation give us a way oI writing very large and very small
numbers, it allows us to easily do calculations as well. Calculators are very helpIul
tools, but unless you can do these calculations without them, you can never check to
see iI your answers make sense. Any calculation should be checked using your logic,
so don't just assume an answer is correct. This page will explain the rules Ior
calculating with scientiIic notation.
Rule for Multiplication - When you multiply numbers with scientiIic notation,
multiply the coeIIicients together and add the exponents. The base will remain 10.
Ex 1. Multiply (3.45 x 10
7
) x (6.25 x 10
5
)
first rewrite the problem as: (3.45 x 6.25) x (10
7
x 10
5
)
Then multiply the coefficients and add the exponents: 21.5625 x 10
12

Then change to correct scientific notation and round to correct significant digits:
2.16 x 10
13

NOTE - we add one to the exponent because we moved the decimal one place to
the left.
Remember that correct scientiIic notation has a coeIIicient that is less than 10, but
greater than or equal to one.
Ex. 2. Multiply (2.33 x 10
-6
) x (8.19 x 10
3
)
rewrite the problem as: (2.33 x 8.19) x (10
-6
x 10
3
)
Then multiply the coefficients and add the exponents: 19.0827 x 10
-3

Then change to correct scientific notation and round to correct significant digits
1.91 x 10
-2

Remember that -3 + 1 -2

Rule for Division - When dividing with scientiIic notation, divide the coeIIicients and
subtract the exponents. The base will remain 10.
Ex. 1 Divide 3.5 x 10
8
by 6.6 x 10
4

rewrite the problem as: 3.5 x 10
8

---------
6.6 x 10
4

Divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents to get: 0.530303 x 10
4

Change to correct scientific notation and round to correct significant digits to
get: 5.3 x 10
3

Note - We subtract one from the exponent because we moved the decimal one
place to the right.

Rule for Addition and $ubtraction - when adding or subtracting in scientiIic
notation, you must express the numbers as the same power oI 10. This will oIten
involve changing the decimal place oI the coeIIicient.
Ex. 1 Add 3.76 x 10
4
and 5.5 x 10
2

move the decimal to change 5.5 x 10
2
to 0.055 x 10
4

add the coefficients and leave the base and exponent the same: 3.76 + 0.055
3.815 x 10
4

following the rules for rounding, our final answer is 3.815 x 10
4

Rounding is a little bit diIIerent because each digit shown in the original problem
must be considered signiIicant, regardless oI where it ends up in the answer.
Ex. 2 $ubtract (4.8 x 10
5
) - (9.7 x 10
4
)
move the decimal to change 9.7 x 10
4
to 0.97 x 10
5

subtract the coefficients and leave the base and exponent the same: 4.8 - 0.97
3.83 x 10
5

round to correct number of significant digits: 3.83 x 10
5

!art I. Change the Iollowing numbers to proper scientiIic notation:
1) 0.0803




2) 678.3 3) 3 450 000
!art II. Change the Iollowing numbers to standard notation:
4) 6.5 x 10
-2





5) 9.7 x 10
2
6) 1.4 x 10
-1

Answers 1) 8.03 x 10
-2
2) 6.783 x 10
2
3) 3.45 x 10
6

4) 0.065 5) 970 6) 0.14

!art I. Change the Iollowing numbers to proper scientiIic notation

1) 65.7






2) 0.00545 3) 22 450 000
!art II. Change the Iollowing numbers to standard notation
4) 8.85 x 10
4
5) 1.847 x 10
2
6) 3.400 x 10
-3







Answers 1) 6.57 x 10
1
2) 5.45 x 10
-3
3) 2.245 x 10
7

4) 88 500 5) 184.7 6) 0.003400

$cience Help Online Worksheet 2-5j Calculating with $cientific Notation

Name Section
Hit the print command and show all work in the spaces provided. Leave your answers in proper
scientiIic notation, and round your answers to the correct number oI signiIicant digits.
Rule for Multiplication - When you multiply numbers with scientiIic notation, multiply the
coeIIicients together and add the exponents. The base will remain 10.
Rule for Division - When dividing with scientiIic notation, divide the coeIIicients and subtract
the exponents. The base will remain 10.
1) (6.8 x 10
3
) x (4.54 x 10
6
)



2) (2.0 x 10
-1
) x (8.5 x 10
5
)
3) (4.42 x 10
-3
) x (4 x 10
-2
)



4) (3 x 10
6
) x (7 x 10
-7
)
5) divide (9.2 x 10
-3
) by (6.3 x 10
6
)



6) divide (2.4 x 10
6
) by (5.49 x 10
-9
)
Answers 1) 3.1x10
10
2) 1.7 x 10
5
3) 2 x 10
-4
4) 2.1 x 10
0
5) 1.5 x 10
-9
6) 4.4 x 10
14