How to write numbers in scientific notation? (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 14 Aug, 2024

To write numbers in scientific notation, place the decimal after the first digit, count the shifts, and express as a product of that number and 10 raised to the shift's power.

For example, 5000 can be written as 5×103 because the decimal point moves three places to the left, and 0.0098 can be written as 9.8×10 −3because the decimal point moves three places to the right.

Scientific notation

Scientific notation is useful for representing a very large or very small number skillfully. It is used for numbers in order to write numbers in standard form, also it helps in writing large numbers. In Scientific notation, a number is written as,

**a × 10 b

• Where a is a non-zero number lie between 1 to 10 i.e. 1 ≤ a < 10 and be negative also and b can be any number.
• Here b+1 shows the number of digits in the given number.

For example,

1. 5000 in scientific notation is written as 5 × 103
2. 12500 in scientific notation is written as 1.25 × 104
3. 0.02 in scientific notation is written as 2 × 10-2
4. -6700 in scientific notation is written as -6.7 × 103

How to write numbers in scientific notation?

**Answer:

In order to express numbers in scientific notation, lets take a look at the below-given cases,

**Case 1 When a positive number is greater than 1mIn such a case put a decimal after the first digit.

**Step 1 5000 ⇢ 5.000

Now to balance it multiply it by 10(b - 1) where b is the number of digits in the given number, here the number consists of 4 digits so multiply it by 103.

**Step 2 5.000 × 103.

**Note If the given number is negative just put the negative sign in the result.

**Example -5000 ---> -5.000 x 103

**Case 2 When the positive number is a very small number i.e. smaller than 1 but greater than 0.

In such a case multiply the number by 10 until it is less than 1, and count how many times you multiply it.

**Step 1 0.0098 ⇢ 9.8(multiplied number 3 times)

Now the number is multiplied by 10 m times. you have to divide the number by 10 m times, to balance it. So instead of dividing it by 10m multiply it by 10-m because both means the same.

**Step 2 9.8 x 10-3

This is the scientific notation.

**Note If the given number is negative just put the negative sign in the result.

Sample Problems

**Question1: Convert 70000 into scientific notation.

**Solution:

Number of digits is 5

So, 70000 = 7 × 10-5

**Question2: Convert -0.0000845 into scientific notation

**Solution:

There are 5 digits to reach the first non zero digit

So, -0.0000845 = -8.45 × 105

**Question3: Convert 7346.0431 into scientific notation.

**Solution:

There are 3 digits for decimal point to reach the first digit

So, 7346.0431 = 7.3460431 × 103