Chapter 2: Measurement and Problem Solving
 Express very large and very small
numbers using scientific notation.

Scientific notation allows us to express very large or
small numbers without having to write down all of the
digits
 15,000,000,000 = 1.5 x 1010
 0.00000264 = 2.64 x 10-6

When expressing numbers in scientific notation, always
keep the same number of sigfigs as in the original
measurement.

To express a number written in standard notation in
scientific notation:
 Move the decimal until one nonzero digit appears to
the left of the decimal.
 The exponent represents the number of decimal
places you moved
▪ A positive exponent represents a value larger than one
▪ A negative exponent represents a value less than one
 Include all significant figures
▪ 1.5 x 105 = 150,000
▪ 2.93 x 10-7 = 0.000000293
If the decimal point is
moved to the left, the
exponent is positive.
If the decimal point is
moved to the right,
the exponent is
negative.
 A number written in scientific notation
has two parts:
 A decimal part
 An exponential part
 The 2013 U.S. population was estimated
to be 315,000,000 people. Express this
number in scientific notation.
 The total U.S national debt in 2013 was
approximately $16,342,000,000,000.
Express this number in scientific
notation.
 The radius of a carbon atom is
approximately 0.000000000070 m.
Express this number in scientific
notation.
 Express the number 0.000038 in
scientific notation.