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Scientific Notation
Writing Large and Small Numbers Using Scientific Notation
Decimal Notation=Standard Numeral
Scientific Notation
Large Number: 345,000,000
Small Number: 0.0000045
Large Number 3.45 x 108 (positive exponent)
Small Number 4.5 x 10-6 (negative exponent)
Procedure to Write large numbers in Scientific Notation
1. Write 345,000,000 as a decimal
 Place the decimal point to the
right of the left-most non-zero
number
 Then multiply the decimal by a
power of 10
2. Count the number of digits between
the old and new decimal point and
write a positive exponent
3.45 x 108
exponent is positive
*** the decimal point of a whole number
is ALWAYS to the right of the “ONES” place
722,000 =
80,300,000,000 =
3,000,100,000 =
Procedure to Write a Large Number from Scientific Notation
Multiply
Write 3.45 x 108 as a standard
numeral (decimal notation)
2. Multiply the decimal by 100,000,000
(108) or shift the decimal point to the
right 8 places (exponent is positive)
1.
2.09 x 105 =
6.7 x 109 =
5.401 x 103
3.45x108 = 345,000,000
2
Procedure to Write a Small Standard Number into Scientific Notation
Divide
1) Write .0000045 as a decimal
 Place the decimal point to the
right of the left-most non-zero
number
 Then multiply the decimal by a
power of 10
2) Count the number of digits between
the old and new decimal point and
write a negative exponent
.0000045 = 4.5 x 10-6
0.00033 =
0.00000056 =
0.0000809 =
Procedure to Write a Small Standard Number from Scientific Notation
1. Write 4.5 x 10-6 as a standard numeral
(decimal notation)
3. Divide the decimal by 1,000,000 (10-6)
or shift the decimal point to the left 6
places (exponent is negative)
2.09 x 10-5 =
6.7 x 10-9 =
5.401 x10
-3
4.5x10-6 = .0000045