5 Questions
What is scientific notation and why is it used in science?
Scientific notation is a way of writing very large or very small numbers as whole numbers or decimals multiplied by a power of 10. It is used in science because numbers in science can be extremely large or small, and it is easier to work with numbers using positive or negative exponents and powers of 10.
How is a number written in scientific notation?
A number in scientific notation is written as the number times 10 to a power. For example, 125 is written as 1.25 $\times$ 10$^2$.
What is the significance of the exponent in scientific notation?
The exponent in scientific notation indicates the number of places the decimal point is moved. A positive exponent means the decimal point is moved to the right, and a negative exponent means the decimal point is moved to the left.
What does the symbol 'X' represent in scientific notation?
The symbol 'X' in scientific notation represents multiplication. It is used to indicate multiplication by 10 to a certain power.
What are the restrictions on the number in scientific notation?
The number in scientific notation must have an absolute value greater than or equal to 1 and less than 10.
Study Notes
Scientific Notation
- Scientific notation is a method of writing very large or very small numbers in a more compact and readable form.
- It is used in science to simplify calculations and to express data with extreme values, making it easier to perform mathematical operations and compare quantities.
Writing Numbers in Scientific Notation
- A number in scientific notation is written as a product of a number between 1 and 10 (called the coefficient) and a power of 10 (called the exponent).
- The general form of a number in scientific notation is: a × 10^n, where 1 ≤ a < 10 and n is an integer.
Significance of the Exponent
- The exponent (n) in scientific notation indicates the power to which 10 is raised, specifying the magnitude of the number.
- A positive exponent indicates a large number (greater than 1), while a negative exponent indicates a small number (less than 1).
The Symbol 'X' in Scientific Notation
- There is no symbol 'X' in scientific notation; instead, the coefficient and exponent are separated by a multiplication symbol (×).
Restrictions on the Number in Scientific Notation
- The coefficient (a) must be a number between 1 and 10 (inclusive).
- The exponent (n) must be an integer (positive, negative, or zero).
Test your understanding of scientific notation with Grade 8 Math Number
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