Scientific Notation

Flashcards covering the definition, components, and conversion rules for scientific notation from the lecture notes.

What is the primary purpose of scientific notation?

To express very large or very small numbers concisely for communication and calculation.

How does moving a decimal place change the value of a number?

It changes the value of the number by a power of 10.

What are the two main components of a number written in scientific notation?

The coefficient (mantissa) and the exponent.

What is a coefficient (mantissa) in scientific notation?

The main number, representing the actual measurement, which is typically between 1 and 10 (specifically, 1.0 to 9.9…). It is not the exponent.

What does the exponent in scientific notation represent?

It represents the magnitude of the measurement, indicating how large or small the number is.

What is the difference between standard notation and scientific notation?

Standard notation is the regular way a number is written, while scientific notation expresses a number using a coefficient and an exponent to a power of 10.

In scientific notation, what does a positive exponent indicate about the original standard number?

A positive exponent indicates that the original standard number is greater than one.

In scientific notation, what does a negative exponent indicate about the original standard number?

A negative exponent indicates that the original standard number is less than one.

When converting a number to scientific notation, what range must the coefficient be in?

The coefficient must be between 1 and 10 (e.g., 1.0 to 9.9…).

When converting scientific notation with a positive exponent to standard notation, which direction do you move the decimal point?

To the right.

When converting scientific notation with a negative exponent to standard notation, which direction do you move the decimal point?

To the left.

What does a negative exponent in scientific notation imply about the number itself?

It implies the number is less than one, but it does not mean the number itself is negative.