Concept Overview
Scientific notation is a short way to write very large or very small numbers.
It uses powers of 10 so numbers are easier to read and calculate.
It is used in science, astronomy, measurement, and data.
Scientific notation has the form a x .
The number a is at least 1 and less than 10. The exponent n is an integer.
Large numbers use positive exponents. Small decimals use negative exponents.
Operations use ordinary multiplication or division on the decimal part and exponent laws on powers of 10.