Question #c3c9a

1 Answer
Feb 23, 2017

Depends on what you are given.

Explanation:

If you are simply asked to give the scientific notation of a number, say 0.00000016, the decimal point ends up right after the FIRST whole number (except zero).

0.00000016 = #1.6# x #10^(-7)#
1,234,567,890 = #1.23# x #10^9#

The movement of decimal depends on what numbers you were given. A #color(blue)(positive)# exponent would mean that you have shifted the decimal from right to left.

1,000,000 = #1.0# x #10^6#
213,645.89 = #2.14# x #10^5#

A #color(red)("negative")# movement means that the decimal place moved from left to right.

0.004 = #4.0# x #10^(-2)#
0.00435 = #4.35# x #10^(-2)#