Scientific Notation

Scientific Notation Intro

Scientific Notation
 Consists of two parts
 1. mantissa
 The full size number that comes before x 10
 2. characteristic
 The exponent that comes after x 10 and is
superscript
Scientific Notation
 Example:

3.00 x 10 15

Mantissa Characteristic
Scientific Notation
 To convert a normal number to scientific
notation, move the decimal either to the
left or right until you have a mantissa which
is greater than -10 or less than +10
Scientific Notation
 If the absolute value of the number is
smaller than 1, the characteristic will be
negative

 If the absolute value of the number is larger

than 1, the characteristic will be positive
Scientific Notation
 Example:

542
The absolute value of the number is greater than
one so the characteristic is positive
542
Moved to the left two spaces

5.42 x 102
Scientific Notation
 Example:

-45000000
The absolute value of the number is greater than
one so the characteristic is positive
-45000000
Moved to the left seven spaces

-4.5 x 107
 Example:
0.0040
The absolute value of the number is less than one so
the characteristic is negative

0.0040
Moved to the right three spaces

4.0 x 10 -3
 Example:
-0.209
The absolute value of the number is less than one so
the characteristic is negative

-0.209
Moved to the right one space

-2.09 x 10 -1
 Example:
9.245
The absolute value of the number is between -10 and
+10.

9.245
The decimal is not moved. In this case, the
characteristic is zero.

9.245 x100
Expanding Scientific Notation to
Regular notation
 If the characteristic is positive,
move the decimal to the right.
 If the characteristic is negative,
move the decimal to the left.
Expanding Scientific Notation to
Regular notation
Example
6.50 x 102

The characteristic tells us to move two

places to the right.
650.
Expanding Scientific Notation to
Regular notation
Example
6.50 x 10-2

The characteristic tells us to move two

places to the left.
0.0650
Fixing Incorrect Scientific Notation
 Fix the mantissa by moving the decimal

 Add the “fixed” characteristic to the

original characteristic
Example
20.4 x 106 (incorrect)

Moved over one space to the left (+) to

correct the mantissa

2.04 x 10 (6+1)

2.04 x 107 (correct)

Example
200.4 x 10-6 (incorrect)

Moved over two spaces to the left (+) to

correct the mantissa

2.004 x 10 (-6+2)

2.004 x 10-4 (correct)

Example
0.00340 x 108 (incorrect)

Moved over three spaces to the right (-) to

correct the mantissa

3.40 x 10 (8 + -3)

3.40 x 105 (correct)

Example
0.00340 x 10-8 (incorrect)

Moved over three spaces to the right (-) to

correct the mantissa

3.40 x 10 (-8 + -3)

3.40 x 10-11 (correct)

Adding and Subtracting Scientific
Notation
 The mantissa MUST have the
same characteristic.

 Then add or subtract the mantissa.

 Finally correct the scientific

notation if needed
Multiplying Numbers in Scientific
Notation
 Multiply the mantissas

 ADD the characteristics together

 Correct the number if the

mantissas are +10 or greater/-10 or
less.
Dividing Numbers in Scientific
Notation
 Divide the mantissas
 Subtract the characteristic of the
denominator from the
characteristic of the numerator
 Correct the number if the
mantissas are +10 or greater/-10 or
less.