Scientific Notation Notes
Definitions:
A UNIT is a standard
with which we measure a particular quantity.
A UNIT FRACTION is a
fraction with both of the following:
1)
It has units on the top AND
the bottom;
2)
It has a value equal to 1.
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION is a short way scientists write large or small numbers.
General form of scientific
notation:
times
NUMBER* X 10 INTEGER
*with 1 non-zero digit in front of the decimal point.
Copy these and state whether in
SCI. NOT. or not:
2.5X103; 31.2X105;
4X10-4; 9.2X102.5; 4X108.
POWERS (or EXPONENTS) are numbers written slightly above
and to the right of a number called the BASE.
It means to MULTIPLY the
BASE BY ITSELF the EXPONENT number of times.
Xn = X*X*X…X
n times
Examples (try these):
23=
32=
43=
102=
103=
104=
NEGATIVE EXPONENTS mean the reciprocal of the number to the positive exponent.
X-n
= 1/Xn
Examples (try these):
2-3=
3-2=
4-3=
10-1=
10-2=
10-3=
ZERO EXPONENT:
Any number to the 0 power equals 1.
X0
= 1
Examples (change to SCI. NOT.)
6,350,000=
.000456=
500,000=
Examples (change to ordinary numb.)
7.38X107=
4X10-5=