PERFORMING

CALCULATIONS
IN SCIENTIFIC
NOTATION
ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION
Review:
Scientific notation expresses a
number in the form:
M x 10n
n is an
Any number integer
between 1
and 10
 4 x 106 IF the exponents are
+ _______________
3 x 10 6 the same, we simply
add or subtract the
7 x 106 numbers in front and
bring the exponent
down unchanged.
 4 x106 If the exponents are
+ 3 x 105 NOT the same, we
must move a decimal
to make them the
same.
Determine which of the numbers has the smaller exponent.

1. Change this number by moving the decimal place to the

left and raising the exponent, until the exponents of both
numbers agree. Note that this will take the lesser number
out of standard form.

2. Add or subtract the coefficients as needed to get the new

coefficient.

3. The exponent will be the exponent that both numbers

share.

4. Put the number in standard form.

 4.00 x 4.00 x 10 6 10 6

+ 3.00 x 10 + .30 x 10
5 6

Move the decimal on the smaller

number to the left and raise the
exponent !
Note: This will take the lesser number out of standard form.
 4.00 x 104.00 x
6 10 6

+ 3.00 x 10 + .30 x 10
5 6

4.30 x 10 6

Add or subtract the coefficients

as needed to get the new
coefficient.
The exponent will be the exponent
that both numbers share.
Make sure your final answer is
in scientific notation. If it is
not, convert is to scientific
notation.!
A Problem for you…
2.37 x 10 -6

+ 3.48 x 10 -4
Solution…
002.37
2.37 x 10 -6

+ 3.48 x 10 -4
Solution…
0.0237 x 10 -4

+ 3.48 x 10 -4

3.5037 x 10 -4
 PERFORMING
CALCULATIONS
IN SCIENTIFIC
NOTATION
MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING
 Rule for Multiplication
When multiplying with scientific notation:

1.Multiply the coefficients together.

2.Add the exponents.
3.The base will remain 10.
(2 x 103) • (3 x 105) =

6 x 108
 (4.6x108) (5.8x106) =26.68x1014

Notice: What is wrong with this example?

Although the answer is correct, the

number is not in scientific notation.

To finish the problem, move the decimal one

space left and increase the exponent by
one.

26.68x1014 = 2.668x1015
((9.2 x 105) x (2.3 x 107) =

21.16 x 1012 =
2.116 x 1013
(3.2 x 10-5) x (1.5 x 10-3) =

4.8 • 10-8
 Rule for Division
When dividing with scientific notation
1.Divide the coefficients
2.Subtract the exponents.
3.The base will remain 10.
(8 • 106) ÷ (2 • 103) =

4 x 103
Please multiply the following numbers.

(5.76 x 102) x (4.55 x 10-4) =

(3 x 105) x (7 x 104) =

(5.63 x 108) x (2 x 100) =

(4.55 x 10-14) x (3.77 x 1011) =

(8.2 x10-6) x (9.4 x 10-3) =

Please multiply the following numbers.

(5.76 x 102) x (4.55 x 10-4) = 2.62 x 10-1

(3 x 105) x (7 x 104) = 2.1 x 1010

(5.63 x 108) x (2 x 100) = 1.13 x 109

(4.55 x 10-14) x (3.77 x 1011) = 1.72 x 10-2

(8.2 x10-6) x (9.4 x 10-3) = 7.71 x 10-8

 Please divide the following numbers.
1. (5.76 x 102) / (4.55 x 10-4) =
2. (3 x 105) / (7 x 104) =
3. (5.63 x 108) / (2) =
4. (8.2 x 10-6) / (9.4 x 10-3) =
5. (4.55 x 10-14) / (3.77 x 1011) =
 Please divide the following numbers.
1. (5.76 x 102) / (4.55 x 10-4) = 1.27 x 106
2. (3 x 105) / (7 x 104) = 4.3 x 100 = 4.3
3. (5.63 x 108) / (2 x 100) = 2.82 x 108
4. (8.2 x 10-6) / (9.4 x 10-3) = 8.7 x 10-4
5. (4.55 x 10-14) / (3.77 x 1011) = 1.2 x 10-25
 PERFORMING
CALCULATIONS
IN SCIENTIFIC
NOTATION
Raising Numbers in Scientific
Notation To A Power
(5 X 104)2 =

(5 X 104) X (5 X 104) =
(5 X 5) X (104 X 104) =
(25) X 108 = 2.5 X 109
 Try These:
1. (3.45 X 1010)2 1.19 X 1021

2. (4 X 10-5)2 1.6 X 10-9

3. (9.81 X 1021)2 9.624 X 1043

1. (3.45 X 1010)2 = (3.45 X 3.45) X (1010 X 1010) = (11.9) X

(1020) = 1.19 X 1021
2. (4 X 10-5)2 = (4 X 4) X (10-5 X 10-5) = (16) X (10-10) = 1.6 X
10-9
3. (9.81 X 1021)2 = (9.81 X 9.81) X (1021 X 1021) = (96.24) X
(1042) =
9.624 X 1043
 Changing from Standard
Ex. 6800 Notation to Scientific Notation Changing from Scientific
Ex. 4.5 x 10 -3 Notation to Standard Notation
6800 1. Move decimal to get
a single digit # and
3 2 1 count places moved 1. Move decimal the same

68 x 10 3 2. Answer is a single
digit number times
00045 number of places as the
exponent of 10. Scientific
the power of ten of
3 2 1 (Right if Pos. Left if Neg.)
Notation
places moved.
9.54x107 miles
If the decimal is moved left the power is positive.
If the decimal is moved right the power is negative.

1.86x107 miles
Makes
What is Scientific Notation per second These
A number expressed in scientific notation is

(3 x 104)(7 x 10–5)
Multiply two numbers
expressed as a decimal number between 1 and 10
multiplied by a power of 10 e( g, 7000 = 7 x 103 or Numbers
in Scientific Notation
Easy
0.0000019 = 1.9 x 10 -6)

= (3 x 7)(10 4 x 10–5) 1. Put #’s in ( )’s Put

base 10’s in ( )’s Why do we use it?
= 21 x 10-1 2. Multiply numbers
3. Add exponents of 10. It’s a shorthand way of writing very large or very
= 2.1 x 10 0 4. Move decimal to put small numbers used in science and math and
Answer in Scientific anywhere we have to work with very large or very
or 2.1 Notation small numbers.
Addition and subtraction
2.0 x 10 2 + 3.0 x 103 Scientific Notation

6.20 x 10–5 DIVIDE USING SCIENTIFIC .2 x 10 3 + 3.0 x 103 1. Make exponents of 10 the same
2. Add 0.2 + 3 and keep the 103 intact
8.0 x 103 NOTATION
= .2+3 x 103
The key to adding or subtracting numbers
in Scientific Notation is to make sure the
= 3.2 x 103
6.20 10-5 exponents are the same.
1. Divide the #’s &
8.0 103 Divide the powers of ten
2.0 x 10 7 - 6.3 x 105
(subtract the exponents)
= 0.775 x 10 -8
2. Put Answer in Scientific 2.0 x 10 7 -.063 x 10 7 1. Make exponents of 10 the same
= 7.75 x 10–9 Notation 2. Subtract 2.0 - .063 and
= 2.0-.063 x 10 7 keep the 107 intact
= 1.937 x 10 7