How do you convert -52,300,000 into scientific notation?

1 Answer
Jul 12, 2015

The number in standard scientific notation is #-5.23× 10^7#.

Explanation:

In scientific notation, numbers are written in the form #a × 10^b#, where #a# is the "pre-exponential" part and #10^b# is the "exponential part".

Your number in decimal form is #"-52,300,000"#.

The negative sign remains unchanged.

To get to "standard" scientific notation, we move the decimal point so there is only one non-zero digit in front of the decimal point.

So, #"-52,300,000"# becomes #"-5.230,0000"#.

The trailing zeroes are not significant, so #"-5.230,0000"# becomes #-5.23#.

We moved the decimal point seven places, so the exponent is #7#.

We moved the decimal point to the left, so the exponent is positive.

The exponential part is therefore #10^7#.

#"-52,300,000" = -5.23 × 10^7#