E - Scientific Notation Lesson

Scientific Notation

We can perform the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with numbers that are in scientific notation.

View the Khan Academy videos below to learn more.

• Video 1 Links to an external site.
• Video 2 Links to an external site.

 Division in scientific notation is much like multiplication. The difference is that you divide the stems, or coefficients, and subtract the exponents. Remember, when dividing like bases, you subtract the exponents.

Example:
(8 x 10⁶)   = (8)(10⁶) = 2 x 10^6-3 = 2 x 10³
(4 x 10³)       (4)(10³)

Addition and Subtraction have the same rule, and then you add or subtract depending on the signs. You can only add or subtract like terms, right? That seems to be a recurring theme as we work our way through the course!! The base of ten and its exponent are considered the "term." If you have 10³ and 10⁵, those are NOT like terms and you cannot combine those. We can, however, move our decimal point and adjust our exponent so that they are the same. Then, we just combine our stems, or coefficients as dictated by the signs.

This video will show you how to adjust so that you do have like terms. 

• Click here to view Links to an external site..

Try this matching activity to practice your operations with scientific notation.

It is also important to note how scientific notation looks when using technology. You may have noticed on your calculator that when you are using really large or really small numbers that your calculator's display may not be large enough to house it. You may see something like this 4.87894 E 8 or 4.87894 e+8.

This simply means 4.87894 x 10⁸.

If you saw the following displayed on your calculator screen, what would it mean? Write each in standard notation, then check your answers.

1. 2.789 E 4
   
   • Solution: 27,890
2. 3.59e+5
   
   • Solution: 359,000
3. 5.002 E-8
   • Solution: 0.00000005002

Assignment

Now that you have spent some time learning about scientific notation, you are ready to complete your Homework. Click here to download the Scientific Notation Homework. Links to an external site.

Once you have completed the Scientific Notation Homework, check your even answers and make sure you ask your teacher if you have any questions. Links to an external site. When you feel confident in your work, you'll need to take the Scientific Notations Homework Quiz. Make sure you have your Homework completed before  you when you log in to take it and remember that this is a timed quiz. 

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