To write numbers in scientific notation you must
follow these steps:
1. Determine the coefficient or significant digits of the number. This is the part of the number that is not zero and not in scientific notation.
2. Count the number of decimal places that you would have to move the decimal point to the right in order to make the coefficient a number between 1 and 10.
3. Determine the power of 10 that corresponds to the number of decimal places moved. This power of 10 represents the exponent in scientific notation.
4. Write the coefficient (with the decimal point moved) followed by the multiplication symbol (×) and 10 raised to the power determined in step 3.
For example:
To write the number 320,000 in scientific notation:
1. The coefficient is 3.2 because you can move the decimal point five places to the left to obtain a number between 1 and 10.
2. You moved the decimal point five places to the left, so the power of 10 is -5.
3. Write the number in scientific notation as 3.2 × 10^-5.
Please note that sometimes the coefficient may have trailing zeros, which can be omitted in scientific notation.