6th Grade Math Textbook, Progress

Scientific Notation

2-6

Scientists use scientific notation as a

more compact and useful way to write

very large or very small numbers.

The Sun is about 93,000,000 miles

from Earth.

To write a number in scientific notation,

express it as a productof two factors:


One factor is a number greater than

or equal to 1, but less than 10.


The other factor is a power of 10,

such as 10^2 , 10^3 , and so on.

Write 93,000,000 in scientific notation.


Move the decimal point to the left 9 .3 0 0 0 0 0 0.

to get a number greater than or equal

to 1, but less than 10.

Count the number of places the decimal 7 places moved.

point is moved. This is the power of ten. The power of 10 is 10^7.

Drop the zeros to the right of the 9.3
 107 power of 10

decimal. Express the number as

a product of the factors. number1, but 10

In scientific notation, 93,000,0009.3
 107.

Study these examples.

1 8 5 , 0 0 0 1 .8 5 0 0 0.1.85
 105

number1, but 10

4 , 0 6 4 , 0 0 0 4 .0 6 4 0 0 0.4.064
 106

power of 10

“greater than or equal to”

2.0

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