Book 2B Chapter 8

(page 8.18 - 8.25)

Scientific Notation
Meaning of Scientific Notation
Sometimes, we need to deal with
extremely large numbers or small
numbers.

The area of the Sahara The number of stars

Desert is about in our galaxy is up to
9 400 000 000 000 m2. 100 000 000 000.
Meaning of Scientific Notation
Sometimes, we need to deal with
extremely large numbers or small
numbers.

The size of an HIV virus is The pollen grain of maize

about 0.000 000 128 m. weighs about 0.000 000 15
g.
9 400 000 000 000 m2 100 000 000 000

0.000 000 128 m 0.000 000 15 g

These numbers contain many zeros. It is

inconvenient to read and write them.
9 400 000 000 000 m2 100 000 000 000

0.000 000 128 m 0.000 000 15 g

Can we simplify the presentation

of these numbers?
9 400 000 000 000 m2 100 000 000 000

0.000 000 128 m 0.000 000 15 g

Yes, we can simplify the

presentation of these numbers
using the powers of 10.
Fill in the following table.

Number Power of 10
10 101
100 102
1000 103
10 000 104

Can you express the following number as a power of 10?

1012
1 000 000 000 000 = _________
Thus, we can use the powers of 10 to express
large numbers as follows:

5000 = 5 1000
= 5 103
41 000 = 4.1 10 000
= 4.1 104
Fill in the following table.

Number Power of 10
1
0.1  10–1
10
1
0.01  10–2
100
1
0.001  10–3
1000
1
0.0001  10–4
10 000

Can you express the following number as a power of 10?

10–9
0.000 000 001 = _________
Thus, we can use the powers of 10 to express
small numbers as follows:

4
0.004 =
1000
= 4 10–3
6.3
0.000 63 =
10 000
= 6.3 10–4
We say that the above numbers
such as 5103 and 6.310–4 are
written in scientific notation.
A positive number x is in scientific notation
if it is written in the form a  10 n
,
where 1  a < 10 and n is an integer.

When x  10, n is positive.

Note that 5.84 and 9.2
e.g. 5840 = 5.84  103 lie between 1 and 10.

When 0 < x < 1, n is negative.

e.g. 0.000 92 = 9.2  10–4
Follow-up question
Circle the numbers expressed in scientific notation.
(a) 4.2  107 (d) 9.615  10–3
(b) 31.4  105 (e) – 8.47  10–10
(c) 0.4  106 (f) –18  10–7
Consider the previous examples.
The decimal point is moved
5000 = 5 10
5 3
3 places to the left.

41 000 = 4.1 104 The decimal point is moved

4 places to the left.

The decimal point is moved

4 = 4 10
0.004 –3
3 places to the right.

The decimal point is moved

0.000 63 = 6.3 10–4 4 places to the right.

There is a quick way to obtain

the red numbers and the power
of 10 in the above expressions.
Do you know how?
We can follow the steps below to express a number in
scientific notation:
Step Number > 10 0 < Number < 1
(1) Locate the position
of the decimal point.
5000 . .
0.000 63
to the left to the right
(2) Move the decimal point
until it is after the most
significant figure.

(3) Count the number 3 4

of places moved.

(4) Express the number 5 103 6.3 10–4

in scientific notation.
 Negative numbers can also be
expressed in scientific notation.

For example,
– 610 000 = – 6.1  105
– 0.002 19 = – 2.19  10–3
 Can you express the following
numbers in scientific notation?

Move the decimal point

(a) 270 000 = 2.7 105
5 places to the left.

Move the decimal point

(b) 839 000 000 = 8.39 10 8
8 places to the left.

Move the decimal point

(c) 0.000 072 = 7.2 10–5 5 places to the right.

Move the decimal point

(d) 0.000 000 518 = 5.18 10–7 7 places to the right.
Follow-up question
Express the following numbers in scientific notation.
(a) 28 000 000 (b) 6 430 000 000

(c) 0.000 021 (d) 0.000 001 75

Solution
(a) 28 000 000  2 . 8  10 7

(b) 6 430 000 000  6 . 43  10 9

5
(c) 0.000 021  2 . 1 10
(d) 0.000 001 75  1.75  10 6
 The following numbers are
written in scientific notation.
Can you express them as
integers or decimals?

(a) (i) 3.9  105

 3.9  100 000
 390 000 The decimal point is moved

5 places to the right.

(ii) 2.74  104
 27 400 Move the decimal point
4 places to the right.
 The following numbers are
written in scientific notation.
Can you express them as
integers or decimals?

(b) (i) 6.1  10–7

 6.1 0.000 000 1
 0.000 000 61 The decimal point is moved

7 places to the left.

(ii) 4.38  10–9
 0.000 000 004 38 Move the decimal point
9 places to the left.
Follow-up question
Express the following numbers as integers or
decimals.
(a) 8.7  106 (b) 4.58  109
(c) 1.3  10–7 (d) 7.32  10–8
Solution
(a) 8.7  106  8 700 000

(b) 4.58  109  4 580 000 000

(c) 1.3  10–7  0.000 000 13
(d) 7.32  10–8  0.000 000 073 2
 How to express the following
numbers in scientific
notation?

(a) 421  105  ( 4.21 10 2 )  10 5 Express 421 in

scientific notation.
 4.21 10 25 Apply the law of indices.

 4.21 10 7

(b) 0.000 38  10–2  (3.8  10 4 )  10 2 Express 0.000 38 in

scientific notation.
 3.8  10 4 ( 2 )
 3.8  10 6
Follow-up question
Express the following numbers in scientific
notation, and round off your answers to 3
significant figures.
(a) 43 051  106 (b) 0.009 128  10–4
Solution
(a) 43 051  10  (
6 4 . 3051  10 4
)  10 6

 4.3051 10 4 6
 4.3051 1010
 4.31 1010 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Follow-up question
Express the following numbers in scientific
notation, and round off your answers to 3
significant figures.
(a) 43 051  106 (b) 0.009 128  10–4
Solution

(b) 0.009 128  10 –4  (9.128  10 3 )  10 4

 9.128  10 3( 4 )
 9.128  10 7
 9.13  10 7 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Applications of Scientific Notation

Scientific notation may help in the

calculations involving extremely
large and/or small numbers.
Applications of Scientific Notation
Find the values of the following
expressions and express your
answers in scientific notation.

(a) 1.6  108  7  107

(b) 3.4  10 5  8.1 10 6
(c) 0.000 000 015  0.000 06
(d) 310 000  1 240 000 000
Applications of Scientific Notation
Find the values of the following
expressions and express your
answers in scientific notation.

First, make the powers of 10

(a) 1.6  10 8  7  10 7 of the two terms the same.

 1.6  10 8  0.7  10 8 7  107 = 7  10–1  108

= 0.7  108
 (1.6  0.7)  108
Take out the common factor 108.
 2.3  10 8
Applications of Scientific Notation
Find the values of the following
expressions and express your
answers in scientific notation.

(a) Alternative Solution

First, make the powers of 10
1.6  10 8  7  107 of the two terms the same.

 1.6  10  10 7  7  10 7
 (1.6  10  7)  107
 23  10 7 Note that 23  107 is not
in scientific notation.
 2.3  10 8
Applications of Scientific Notation
Find the values of the following
expressions and express your
answers in scientific notation.

5 6
First, make the powers of 10
(b) 3.4  10  8.1 10 of the two terms the same.

 3.4  10 5  0.81 10 5 8.1  10–6 = 8.1  10–1  10–5

= 0.81  10–5
 (3.4  0.81)  10 5
5 Take out the common factor 10–5.
 2.59  10
Applications of Scientific Notation
Find the values of the following
expressions and express your
answers in scientific notation.

(b) Alternative Solution

First, make the powers of 10
3.4  10 5  8.1 10 6 of the two terms the same.
 34  10 6  8.1 10 6 3.4  10–5 = 3.4  10  10–6
= 34  10–6
 (34  8.1)  10 6
6 Take out the common factor 10–6.
 25.9  10
 2.59  10 5
Applications of Scientific Notation
(c) 0.000 000 015  0.000 06
 (1.5  10 8 )  (6  10 5 )
 1.5  6  10 8  10 5
 9  10 8( 5 )
 9  10 13
Applications of Scientific Notation
(d) 310 000  1 240 000 000
3.1 10 5

1.24  10 9

3 .1
  10 5 9
1.24
 2.5  10 4

Can I use a calculator to

find the answers?
 When using a calculator,
we can input numbers in
scientific notation using
the key .

Consider the previous examples:

(a) 1.6  108  7  107

Key sequence:
 When using a calculator,
we can input numbers in
scientific notation using
the key .

Consider the previous examples:

(c) 0.000 000 015  0.000 06

1.5  10 8 6  10 5
Key sequence:
Follow-up question
Without using a calculator, find the values of the
following expressions, and express your answers in
scientific notation.
8 6 7
(a) ( 9 . 6  10 6
)  ( 2 . 4  10 ) (b) 5 . 2  10  9  10
Solution
9 . 6  10 6
(a) (9.6  10 6 )  (2.4  10 8 ) 
2.4  10 8
9 .6
  10 6( 8 )
2 .4
 4  1014
Follow-up question
Without using a calculator, find the values of the
following expressions, and express your answers in
scientific notation.
8 6 7
(a) ( 9 . 6  10 6
)  ( 2 . 4  10 ) (b) 5 . 2  10  9  10
Solution
(b) 5.2  10 6  9  10 7
 5.2  10 6  0.9  10 6 9  10–7 = 9  10–1  10–6
= 0.9  10–6
 (5.2  0.9)  10 6
 4.3  10 6
Follow-up question
Without using a calculator, find the values of the
following expressions, and express your answers in
scientific notation.
8 6 7
(a) ( 9 . 6  10 6
)  ( 2 . 4  10 ) (b) 5 . 2  10  9  10
Solution
You can check
(b) Alternative Solution
the answers with
5.2  10 6  9  10 7 a calculator.
 5.2  10  10 7  9  10 7
 (5.2  10  9)  10 7
 43  10 7
 4.3  10 6
 Let’s see one more example of
the application of scientific notation.
If there are 30 days in a month, how
many seconds are there in this
month? Express your answer in
scientific notation and round it off to
2 significant figures.
Number of seconds in this month
 60  60  24  30
 2 592 000
 2.592  10 6
 2.6  10 6 (cor. to 2 sig. fig.)
Follow-up question
Given that the speed of sound is 3.4  10 2m/s, and the
speed of light is 8.8 times
10 5 that of sound. Express
the speed of light in scientific notation.
(Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.)
Solution
Speed of light  (3.4  10 2 )  (8.8  105 ) m/s
 3.4  8.8  10 2  105 m/s
 29.92  10 7 m/s
 2.992  10 8 m/s
 2.99  108 m/s (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)