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What's Scientific Notation?

Definition: Scientific Notation

Summary

  1. 'a' is a variable that must be greater than or equal to 1 and less than 10
  2. 'n' is a variable that must be an integer
  3. ≤ means less than or equal to, and < means less than
  4. So this statement reads "1 is less than or equal to a, which is less than 10"
  5. An integer is a whole number than can be positive, negative, or 0
  6. 5.63 is greater than 1 and less than 10
  7. 5 is a positive integer
  8. 2.005 is greater than 1 and less than 10
  9. -7 is a negative integer

Notes

    1. 'a' must be greater than or equal to 1 but less than 10
    2. 'n', the exponent, can be any integer
    3. Remember, an integer is a whole number that can be positive, negative, or 0
    1. 'a' doesn't necessarily have to be a whole number
    2. In fact, in scientific notation, 'a' is often a decimal
    1. 'n' however, MUST be an integer
    2. It can be positive, negative, or 0, but it can't be a decimal
    1. 5.63 is between 1 and 10
    2. And 5 is a positive integer
    3. So this number is in scientific notation
    1. Remember, an integer is a whole number that can be positive, negative, or 0
    2. So 5 is a positive integer
    1. 2.005 is between 1 and 10
    2. And -7 is a negative integer
    3. So this number is also in scientific notation
    1. Remember, an integer is a whole number that can be positive, negative, or 0