Notes: Scientific Notation

When we work with very large or very small number we can show significant figures more
easily by using scientific notation.
For instance, we can write the distance from the Earth to the Sun, which is approximately
150 000 000 000 m, as 1.5 x 1011 m.
To do so, we start at the last digit, where the decimal place would be. Then we begin to
count numbers to the all the numbers until we reach the 5. Basically, we count the number of
spaces until our decimal would be behind the number 1. The only number we dont count is
the 1.
From the decimal space to in front of the 5, there are 11 digits, hence we have 1011 .

Likewise, when we have a number such as 0.000 000 097, we can write it as 9.7 x 108 .
Anytime you count right of the decimal place, the exponent becomes negative. With
counting right of the decimal place make sure you go behind the first significant figure.
However, you can keep counting such as if you counted the 7, that would make 9 spots;
therefore, you would write in scientific notation as 97 x 109 .
Now if you write it as 97 x 109, and if you realize that 109 is called a nano then you can
say the object is 97 nanometer or 97 nm. However, that is not scientific notation but if you
pursue a scientific degree at the college level, you will at some point see this in your
textbooks and assignments.