Converting Scientific Notation
What is the name of the
highest number possible?
t
a
h
W
?
y
t
i
in
f
n
i
is
*** You could always add 1 to any number to get still
another larger number. ***
the largest number ever given a name to
is the
googleplex
,
which is a 1 followed by a googol of zeros,
where a googol is 10 to the 100th power
(a 1 followed by 100 zeros).
1. Powers of 10
Use a calculator and write each power as a rational number.
10
1
10
2
10
3
10
4
10
5
10
6
______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
10
-1
10
-2
10
-3
10
-4
10
-5
10
-6
______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
What does it mean to have a positive exponent?
How are negative exponents used?
2. Relocation of the Decimal Point: Relocate the decimal
point so that the new number lies between 1 and 10.
1) 34.63
2) 0.00257
3) 0.000056
_______
________
___________
4) 656,000,000,000
____________
3. Scientific Notation :Use the answers to Part 2 and write
each number in scientific notation.
1) 34.63
2) 0.00257
3) 0.000056
_______
________
___________
4) 656,000,000,000
____________
A number is written in scientific notation if it is of the form
n
c x 10
*
where 1 < c < 10 and n is an integer.
*
an integer is a positive, negative whole number including zero
Move
{... -3, -2, -1,
0, 1,the
2, box
3 ... to
} reveal the answer.
Sort the given values.
Written in proper
scientific notation
Not written in proper
scientific notation
Why do we use scientific notation?
Scientific notation is used to write really big numbers.
decimal notation
123,000,000,000
45,000,000
67,800,000,000,000
9,000
scientific notation
Move the star to count the
number of decimal
places.
The amount of moves will
give you the exponent
value.
Scientific notation is used to write really big numbers.
scientific notation
7.82 x 10
3
3.04 x 10
8
5 x 10
4
6.2103 x 10
decimal notation
10
The exponent tells you
how many decimal places
you need to move.
An example of a really big number.
Please write it in scientific notation.
As the planets orbit the sun, the closest Pluto gets to Earth
is approximately 2,700,000,000 miles.
An example of a really big number.
Please write it in scientific notation.
The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately
186,000 miles per second.
Scientific notation is used to write really small numbers.
decimal notation
scientific notation
0.000000034
0.0000000005609
0.000000000064
0.007
Move the star to count the
number of decimal
places.
The amount of moves will
give you the exponent
value.
Scientific notation is used to write really small numbers.
scientific notation
4.8 x 10
1.2 x 10
9 x 10
decimal notation
-6
The exponent tells you
how many decimal places
you need to move.
-12
-2
7.1034 x 10
-5
An example of a really small number.
Please write it in scientific notation.
Human fingernails grow at a rate of about 0.00286 inches
per day.
An example of a really small number.
Please write it in scientific notation.
The thickness of a red blood cell is approximately 0.0003125
of an inch.
How do you know that a number written
in scientific notation will be really big or
really small ?
When do you write a
negative exponent when
converting to scientific
notation?
When do you write a positive
exponent when converting to
scientific notation?
Extra Practice
Extra Practice