
We now have described the notation necessary to write all possible numbers on the number line in scientific notation. That is a lot of zeros, and it is easy to lose count when trying to figure out the place value of the number. Using scientific notation, the distance is 5.88\times10^ How would 2 billion be represented? Since 2 billion is 2 times 1 billion, then 2 billion can be written as 2\times10^9.Ī light year is the number of miles light travels in one year, about 5,880,000,000,000. Here is a way to help you think about it. It is difficult to understand just how big a billion or a trillion is. A positive exponent indicates a large number and a negative exponent indicates a small number that is between 0 and 1. When a number is written in scientific notation, the exponent tells you if the term is a large or a small number. S cientific notation is used by scientists, mathematicians, and engineers when they are working with very large or very small numbers. Using exponential notation, large and small numbers can be written in a way that is easier to read.

Convert between scientific and decimal notationĬonvert Between Scientific and Decimal Notationīefore we can convert between scientific and decimal notation, we need to know the difference between the two.
