1. SCIENTIFIC NOTATION Scientific Notation should be used whenever a situation calls for the use of very large or very small numbers, such as distances in space or the size of an atom. 3.5 x 10 6 1.6 x 10 -7

2. Writing a large number in SCIENTIFIC NOTATION STEP 1: 34,000,000,000 Move the decimal point to the left side of the first nonzero digit. 34,000,000,000. If a decimal point is not shown it is located on the right side of the number. STEP 2: Multiply this new number (3.4) by a power of ten. To determine the power of ten, count the number of places you moved the decimal point. 34,000,000,000. decimal moved 10 places = 3.4 × 10 10 Numbers 1 or larger will have a positive exponent.

3. Writing a small number in SCIENTIFIC NOTATION STEP 1: 0.000058 Move the decimal point to the right side of the first nonzero number. 0.000058 STEP 2: Multiply this new number (5.8) by a power of ten. To determine the power of ten, count the number of places you moved the decimal point. 0.000058 Decimal moved 5 places = 5.8 × 10 -5 Numbers between 0 and 1 will have a negative exponent.

4. Let’s Practice Write each number in scientific notation. 1)4,500,000 2)0.0038 3)61,200 4)0.000071 4.5 × 10 6 3.8 × 10 -3 6.12 × 10 4 7.1 × 10 -5