Section 1.5

Scientific & Engineering Notation 1

Scientific Notation

A number in

scientific notation

is expressed in the form ______________________________where and

k

is an ______________.

Examples: i) The speed of light is approximately 186,000 mi/s.

ii) The diameter of a typical individual fiber in a fiber optic communications cable is approximately 0.000005 m.

2

To change a number in standard (ordinary) notation to scientific notation 1. Move the decimal point so that only

ONE

a

non 2. The number of places the decimal point was moved is

k

, the power of ten.

– If the decimal point is moved to the

left

, then

k

______________ integer.

is a – If the decimal point is moved to the

right

, then

k

______________ integer.

is a 3. Write the number in the form

a

 10

k

3

Operations Involving Scientific Notation Express the numbers in scientific notation, divide powers of 10 using the laws of exponents.

0.00018

E.g.

1, 200, 000, 000 4

Engineering Notation

A number in

engineering notation

is expressed in and

k

is a _____________________________.

E.g. Write each number in engineering notation.

1) 15, 060, 000 2) 0.0014

 3) 520   5