Scientific
Notation: Writing
& Interpreting
Making Sense of Big and Small Numbers
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will:
● Understand what scientific notation is and
why we use it.
● Write very large and very small numbers in
scientific notation.
● Convert numbers between standard and
scientific notation.
● Compare numbers using scientific notation.
● Apply scientific notation to real-world
problems.
Why Scientific
Notation?
Imagine trying to write the number of stars in the
universe or the size of a single atom! Scientific notation
helps us handle huge or tiny numbers easily.
It's a shortcut for writing numbers that would otherwise
take up a ton of space.
What Is Scientific Notation?
The Basics
Scientific notation expresses numbers as a
product of two factors:
● A number between 1 and 10
● A power of 10
Example: 3,000 = 3 × 10³
Where Do We Use It?
Present
Chemistry
Scientists use scientific notation to
describe the size of atoms and molecules.
Present Present
Astronomy Technology
Distances between planets and stars are Computer storage and processing speeds
so large, scientists use scientific notation are often measured in scientific notation.
to write them.
Standard vs Scientific Notation
Standard Notation Scientific Notation
A regular way to write numbers, like 5,000 or A compact way to write numbers, like 5 × 10³
0.0003. or 3 × 10⁻⁴.
Parts of Scientific Notation
The Structure
● Coefficient: A number ≥1 and <10
● Base: Always 10
● Exponent: Shows how many times to multiply
or divide by 10
Example: 6.2 × 10⁴ (Coefficient: 6.2, Base: 10,
Exponent: 4)
How to Write in Scientific Notation
1 2 3
Find the Coefficient Count Decimal Places Write as Power
Move the decimal so only Count how many places you Write the number as a
one nonzero digit is before moved the decimal. coefficient times 10 to the
it. exponent.
Example: Large Number
Write 45,000,000 in Scientific
Notation
● Move decimal after 4: 4.5
● Count places moved: 7
● Write as: 4.5 × 10⁷
Example: Small Number
Write 0.00032 in Scientific Notation
● Move decimal after 3: 3.2
● Count places moved: 4
● Write as: 3.2 × 10⁻⁴
Fill in the blanks 🧩
To write a large number in scientific notation, the exponent will be ____,
and for a small number, the exponent will be ____.
Word bank 🏦
decimal, positive, zero, negative
Answers on the next slide...
Fill in the blanks 🧩 ✅
To write a large number in scientific notation, the exponent will be
positive, and for a small number, the exponent will be negative.
Word bank 🏦
decimal, positive, zero, negative
Interpreting Exponents
Positive Exponents
Show how many times to multiply by 10 (for large
numbers).
Negative Exponents
Show how many times to divide by 10 (for small
numbers).
Real-World Examples
Bacteria Size
A bacterium is about 2 × 10⁻⁶
Earth's Population meters long. Sun's Distance
About 7.9 × 10⁹ people live The sun is about 1.5 × 10⁸
on Earth. km from Earth.
Discussion: Why Use It?
Why do you think scientists and engineers prefer
scientific notation over standard notation for their work?
Share your ideas with the class!
Discuss! 💬
The Power of Scientific Notation
Considering what we've learned about
scientific notation, how does its use
simplify complex calculations and aid
communication among scientists and
engineers?
Discuss! 💬 ✅
You might have said...
It makes really big or really small numbers much easier to write and read.
It helps us compare numbers quickly without counting a bunch of zeros.
It reduces errors because there are fewer digits to accidentally mix up.
Converting Back to Standard Form
Read the Exponent Move the Decimal Fill in Zeros
The exponent tells you how Move right for positive Add zeros as needed to fill
many places to move the exponents, left for negative the places.
decimal. exponents.
Example: Standard Form Conversion
Convert 5.4 × 10⁵ to Standard Form
● Move decimal 5 places right: 540,000
Example: Negative Exponent
Convert 7.1 × 10⁻³ to Standard Form
● Move decimal 3 places left: 0.0071
Notation Conversions Answers on the next slide...
What is 8.03 × 10⁴ in standard notation?
1. 803
2. 8,030
3. 80,300
4. 803,000
Notation Conversions ✅
What is 8.03 × 10⁴ in standard notation?
1. 803
2. 8,030
3. 80,300 �
�
4. 803,000
Comparing Numbers
Scientific notation makes it easy to compare very
large or very small numbers.
Look at the exponents first—bigger exponent
means a bigger number.
Number Line Comparisons
1 2 3
Write in Scientific Compare Exponents Check Coefficients
Notation The number with the greater If exponents are equal,
Express both numbers using exponent is larger. compare the coefficients.
scientific notation.
Try It: Real-World Comparison
Which is larger: the distance from Earth to the
moon (3.84 × 10⁵ km) or the distance from Earth
to the sun (1.5 × 10⁸ km)?
Think about the exponents!
Scientific Notation Check-In
Question 1:
Write the number 93,000,000 in scientific notation.
Question 2:
Convert the number 6.02 × 10⁻⁵ from scientific notation to standard form.
Question 3:
Which number is larger: 2.5 × 10⁶ or 9.8 × 10⁵? Explain your reasoning.
Answers on the next slide...
Scientific Notation Check-In ✅
Answer 1:
9.3 × 10⁷. You move the decimal point 7 places to the left to get a coefficient between 1 and 10.
Answer 2:
0.0000602. A negative exponent means the number is small, so you move the decimal point to
the left.
Answer 3:
2.5 × 10⁶ is larger. When comparing numbers in scientific notation, the number with the larger
exponent is always the greater value.
Scientific Notation in
Action
From measuring the speed of light to calculating the
weight of a grain of sand, scientific notation helps us
explore and understand our universe!
Scientific Notation Quiz
Question 1:
What is the primary reason for using scientific notation?
Question 2:
Convert 0.0000078 into scientific notation.
Question 3:
Which number is smaller: 4.1 × 10⁻³ or 5.2 × 10⁻⁴? Explain your reasoning.
Answers on the next slide...
Scientific Notation Quiz ✅
Answer 1:
Scientific notation is used to write very large or very small numbers in a more compact and
manageable form.
Answer 2:
0.0000078 in scientific notation is 7.8 × 10⁻⁶, as the decimal point moves 6 places to the right.
Answer 3:
5.2 × 10⁻⁴ is smaller because a more negative exponent indicates a smaller number.
Numbers Around Us
Now that you've mastered scientific notation,
let's apply it! Research three different
real-world measurements (e.g., the speed of
light, the diameter of a human hair, the
population of a country).
Record each measurement in both standard
notation and scientific notation, then explain
why scientific notation is particularly useful for
that specific value.
Summary: What Did We Learn?
Key Takeaways
● Scientific notation is a powerful tool for
handling very large and very small numbers.
● We can write and interpret numbers in both
standard and scientific notation.
● Scientific notation is used in many real-world
contexts—from astronomy to biology.
Ready to use scientific notation in your own
explorations?
