We use scientific notation because it makes it easier when dealing with very big or very small numbers, which are common in Scientific and Engineering work.
Writing in Scientific Notation
To write a number in scientific notation:
Move the decimal place so that the "digits" part is a number between 0 and 10
The "power of 10"shows how many places you had to move the decimal point
When the number is 10 or greater, the decimal point has to move to the left, and the power of 10 is positive.
When the number is smaller than 1, the decimal point has to move to the right, so the power of 10 is negative.
Watch one or both of the videos for more detail.
Using Calculators
Instead of entering x 10^ on your calculator, you can use the EXP button to save time. Watch the video and test it out on your calculator. The calculation below can be entered into a graphics calculator as shown:
Practice
Use the following interactive quizzes to practice converting into and out of scientific notation.
Complete the two quizzes below by entering the equations correctly into your calculator (you do not need to do these problems by hand). When entering the numbers, use the EXP button instead of the power of ten.