Scientific Notation

273 = 2.73 × 102

Well, it was never "discovered." Scientific notation is just a means of grouping by tens using it a means to write really large numbers by using less space.

Often Descartes is "credited" with "inventing" it in 1637. This is primarily an internet thing and has no actual proof.

Even Archimedes who lived nearly 2000 years before Descartes used a similar system.

Going with the whole Descartes idea, however, you can definitely state that the use of the modern form of scientific notation (also called "standard form") was used and taught by nearly all noted mathematicians by the end of the Renaissance movement.

Trying to give credit to a specific person or date would be like trying to ask who invented shaving cream.

2.000004 × 106

the scientific notation was created to make it easier to multiply by ten

EX: 3*104=?

3 with 4 zeros

30000

9.2002 x 107

You always change the number so that there is only one number after the decimal point. Here's another example:

What is 123,000,000,000 in scientific notation?

First you change the number to 1.23

1.23 x 10?

Count how many times you move the decimal point in 1.23 to get 123,000,000,000 and put that as the exponent of 10.

You move the decimal point 11 times so the answer is:

1.23 x 1011

Hope this helps(:

2.50 x 102

Standard scientific notation is just a way of writing very huge or tiny numbers conveniently. One simply uses 10 to the power of n to a large or tiny number to save writing the many zeroes. For example, if you were to write one million in numerals, it would be very taxing to write 1000000. Instead you can write, 10 to the power of six.

Do take note that, when using scientific notation, the actual number should be no smaller than 1 or bigger than 10.

In the case of numbers not as "nice" as a million, say 30402749502, first round it to three significant figures, then write the 10 power n part behind. In this number, the scientific notation should be 3.04 times 10 to the power of 10.

And that's how you do it.

2.546 × 103

3.532 x 10-4

or

3.532 * 10^-4

6.13*105

1.27

1.27x10^0

1.569 x 102

3,400 in Scientific Notation = 3.4 x 103

1,4200,000 in Scientific Notation = 1.42 x 107