Very Large Numbers
Part of the Exponents & Polynomials section of Coddy's Algebra journey. Lesson 32 of 64.
The Sun is about 150000000 kilometers away. Numbers like that are hard to read, harder to compare, and easy to miscopy. Scientific notation writes them as a small number times a power of ten: 1.5 * 10^8.
The format has two parts and one rule. The first part is a number between 1 and 10, one nonzero digit before the decimal point. The power of ten carries the size. 45000 becomes 4.5 * 10^4: the decimal point moved four places left, and the exponent 4 remembers the journey.
To write a large number this way: place the point after the first nonzero digit, count how many places it moved, and hang that count on the ten.
Challenge
EasyWrite 320000 in scientific notation. Type it onto the canvas.
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Exponents & Polynomials
1What a Power Is
Repeated MultiplicationSquares and CubesPowers of Negative NumbersWhere the Minus LivesRecap: First Powers4Power of a Power
A Power Raised AgainWhy Exponents MultiplyProduct Rule or Power Rule?The Rule in LettersRecap: Power of a Power7Scientific Notation
Very Large NumbersBack to Standard FormMore Practice, Bigger NumbersVery Small NumbersMultiplying the NotationRecap: Scientific Notation2The Product Rule
Multiplying Same BasesWith CoefficientsMore Than Two FactorsThe Rule in LettersRecap: The Product Rule5Product and Quotient Powers
Every Factor Gets the PowerWith a Number InsideA Power of a QuotientAll Three Rules TogetherRecap: Products and Quotients8What a Polynomial Is
Terms with PowersThe DegreeLike Terms, Only StrongerRecap: Meet the Polynomials11Dividing by a Monomial
Splitting the FractionDividing by a Variable TermBigger SplitsCancel with CareRecap: Dividing3The Quotient Rule
Dividing Same BasesWhy Exponents SubtractWith CoefficientsThe Rule in LettersRecap: The Quotient Rule6Zero and Negative Exponents
The Zero ExponentZero at WorkNegative Means ReciprocalWriting Without NegativesPowers of TenRecap: Zero and Negative