Scientific Notation/ Logs

As you can see, the exponent of 10 is the number of places the decimal point must be shifted to give the number in long form. A positive exponent shows that the decimal point is shifted that number of places to the right. A negative exponent shows that the decimal point is shifted that number of places to the left. (None of these appear above, because they would be really SMALL numbers...but you get the idea!)

The number of digits reported indicates the number of significant figures. This can help you figure out when the zeroes are important, and when they are just "place-holders".

4.660 x 107 = 46,600,000

This number has 4 significant figures. The first zero is the only one that is significant, the rest are only place-holders. As another example,

5.3 x 10-4 = 0.00053

This number has 2 significant figures. LEADING zeroes are always place-holders.

How to do calculations:

On your scientific calculator:

Make sure that the number in scientific notation is put into your calculator correctly. 

Read the directions for your particular calculator. For most scientific calculators:

• 1. Punch the number (the digits part) into your calculator.

  2. Push the EE or EXP button. Do NOT use the x (times) button!!

  3. Enter the exponent number. Use the +/- button to change its sign.

  4. That's all. Now you are free to continue as normal. Usually your calculator will return numbers in scientific notation if they are input in scientific notation. Otherwise you have to count the places from the decimal point...

To check yourself, multiply 5 x 1010 by 6 x 10-4 on your calculator. Your answer should be 3 x 107 (your calculator may say"3E7", which is the same thing).

If you don't have a scientific calculator, you will need to know the following rules for combining numbers expressed in scientific notation:

Addition and Subtraction:

• • All numbers are converted to the same power of 10, and the digit terms are added or subtracted.

  • Example: (4.215 x 10-2) + (3.2 x 10 -4) = (4.215 x 10-2) + (0.032 x 10-2) = 4.247 x 10- 2

  • Example: (8.97 x 104) - (2.62 x 103) = (8.97 x 10 4) - (0.262 x 104) = 8.71 x 104

Multiplication:

• • The digit terms are multiplied in the normal way and the exponents are added. The end result is formatted so that there is only one nonzero digit to the left of the decimal.

  • Example: (3.4 x 106)(4.2 x 103) = (3.4)(4.2) x 10 (6+3) = 14.28 x 109 = 1.4 x 1010

  • (to 2 significant figures)

  • Example: (6.73 x 10-5)(2.91 x 102) = (6.73)(2.91) x 10(-5+2) = 19.58 x 10 -3 = 1.96 x 10-2

  • (to 3 significant figures)

Division:

• • The digit terms are divided in the normal way and the exponents are subtracted. The quotient is changed (if necessary) so that there is only one nonzero digit to the left of the decimal.

  • Example: (6.4 x 106)/(8.9 x 102) = (6.4)/(8.9) x 10(6-2) = 0.719 x 104 = 7.2 x 103

  • (to 2 significant figures)

  • Example: (3.2 x 103)/(5.7 x 10-2) = (3.2)/(5.7) x 103-(-2) = 0.561 x 105 = 5.6 x 104

  • (to 2 significant figures)

Powers of Exponentials:

• • The digit term is raised to the indicated power and the exponent is multiplied by the number that indicates the power.

  • Example: (2.4 x 104)3 = (2.4)3 x 10 (4x3) = 13.824 x 1012 = 1.4 x 1012

  • (to 2 significant figures)

  • Example: (6.53 x 10-3)2 = (6.53)2 x 10 (-3)x2 = 42.64 x 10-6 = 4.26 x 10-5

  • (to 3 significant figures)

Roots of Exponentials:

• • Change the exponent if necessary so that the number is divisible by the root. Remember that taking the square root is the same as raising the number to the one-half power.

  • Example:

  • Example: