Review of Introductory Mathematics
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
This chapter covers the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of
numbers in scientific notation.
EO 1.13
Given the data, CONVERT integers into scientific notation and
scientific notation into integers.
EO 1.14
APPLY one of the arithmetic operations of addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division to numbers using
scientific notation.
Calculator Usage
Scientific Notation key
If pressed after a number is entered on the display, the EE key will convert the
number into scientific notation. If a number is to be entered in scientific notation
into the calculator, pressing the EE key tells the calculator the next entered
numbers are the exponential values.
Scientists, engineers, operators, and technicians use scientific notation when working with very
large and very small numbers. The speed of light is 29,900,000,000 centimeters per second; the
mass of an electron is 0.000549 atomic mass units. It is easier to express these numbers in a
shorter way called scientific notation, thus avoiding the writing of many zeros and transposition
errors.
29,900,000,000 = 2.99 x 1010
0.000549 = 5.49 x 10-4
Writing Numbers in Scientific Notation
To transform numbers from decimal form to scientific notation, it must be remembered that the
laws of exponents form the basis for calculations using powers.
Rev. 0
Page 67
MA-01
