Math Review: Fundamentals of Math

Making Conversions | Keywords in Word Problems | Taking Percentages | Scientific Notation | Integers | Fractions | Decimals (including percents) | Ratios and Proportions | Units of Measurement and Conversions | Miscellaneous Problems

Scientific Notation

To convert from standard form to scientific notation:

  1. Move the decimal point to the right of the first nonzero digit.

  2. Count the number of places the decimal point was moved and assign a sign based on the following:
    • Positive if the original number was 10 or more (in absolute value)
    • Negative if the original number was less than 1 (in absolute value)

  3. Write the number using the format below:

           number in step 1 times 10, which is the number in step 2

    ex. Write 450000 in scientific notation.

           450000.

Recall that the decimal point is always to right of the one’s place.

Result of step 1.

Once the decimal point is moved, the zeros are insignificant.

+5

Result of step 2.

The decimal point was moved past 5 places and positive because 450000>10.

4.5 times 10 to the power of 5

ex. Convert 0.000000879 to scientific notation.

Result of step 1.

-7

Result of step 2.

8.79 times 10 minus power of 7

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©2002, Last Updated: June 15, 2007
El Centro College
Communications, Mathematics, Developmental Studies, and Teacher Preparation Division