Scientific Notation Basics
Ever wondered how scientists work with super tiny or massive numbers without getting lost in zeros? Scientific notation is your answer! This method helps you handle everything from the 460 sextillion carbon atoms in the Hope diamond to the tiny hydrogen atoms measuring 1/10th of a billionth of a meter.
Scientific notation follows a standard format: C × 10^E. The coefficient (C) must be a number greater than or equal to 1 but less than 10. The exponent (E) must be a whole number (integer) that tells you where to place the decimal point. For example, coefficients like 2, 5.7, or 9.99 work perfectly, but 10.5 doesn't fit the rules.
The sign of the coefficient (C) determines whether the entire number is positive or negative. Meanwhile, the exponent (E) tells you about the size of the number - a negative exponent indicates a value less than 1 (a small number), while a positive exponent indicates a value greater than 1 (a large number).
💡 Think of the exponent as a decimal point mover: positive exponents move the decimal right (making numbers bigger), while negative exponents move it left (making numbers smaller).