Question

How do you express `234,000` in scientific notation?

Answer 1

`2.34 xx 10^5`

Explanation:

Scientific notation is where you write a number so that it is some number between 1 and 10 that is multiplied by 10 to a power.

Looking at `234000.0`, I know that I need to move the decimal point over until I have a number between 1 and 10. Let's begin:

Move over once: `" "23400.00`

Move over twice: `" "2340.000`

Move over three times: `" "234.0000`

Move over four times: `" "23.40000`

Move over five times: `" "2.340000 ->` this number is between 1 and 10!

So I know the number part is `2.34` and since I had to move the decimal place over to the left 5 times the next number is `10^5`

So `2.34 xx 10^5`.