METRIC SYSTEM AND POWERS OF TEN
Basic Electrical Theory
Rules associated with powers of ten are as follows:
Rule 1:
To express numbers larger than 1 as a small number times a power of 10, move
the decimal point to the left as many places as desired. Then multiply the number
obtained by 10 to a power that is equal to the number of places moved.
Example:
To convert 6,000,000, move the decimal point 6 places to the left
(6.000,000), then multiply 6 times 10 raised to a power equal to the
number of decimal places moved, obtaining 6 x 106.
6,000,000 = 6 x 106
Rule 2:
To express numbers less than 1 as a whole number times a power of 10, move the
decimal point to the right as many places as desired. Then multiply the number
obtained by 10 to a negative power that is equal to the number of places moved.
Example:
To convert 0.004A, move the decimal point 3 places to the right
(004.), then multiply 4 by 10 raised to a negative power equal to
the number of decimal places moved, obtaining 4 x 10-3A.
0.004A = 4 x 10-3A
Rule 3:
To convert a number expressed as a positive power of 10 to a decimal number,
move the decimal point to the right as many places as the value of the exponent.
Example:
To convert 1 x 103W, move the decimal point 3 places to the right
(1000.0), then drop the multiple of power of 10, obtaining 1,000.
1 x 103 = 1,000W
ES-01
Page A-6
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