Question

How do you write 155,600 in scientific notation?

Answer 1

155,600 in scientific notation is

`1.556*10^5`

Explanation:

Scientific notation is a game of decimals and places. To find the scientific notation of this number, 155,600, the decimal would have to be moved until the answer is between 1 and 10.

`155600.`
The decimal is always at the very end of a number whenever it is not visible in a number. So, since this number is not between the interval of 1 and 10, move the decimal over one place to the left to make the number smaller, and it needs to be multiplied by a 10 with an exponent to keep the value of the number the same.

`15560.0`
Keep track at how many times you moved the decimal. You only moved it once here, so your answer would be `15560*10^1`. This answer, however, does not fit into the interval of 1 to 10, so the decimal needs to be moved again.

`1556.00`
Remember, keep track of how many times you moved the decimal place. You have moved it twice, so the exponent above the 10 would be 2. Yet, this is still not in the interval, so the decimal must be moved again.

`155.600`
The decimal has been moved three times not, but it is still not in the interval of 1 to 10, so the decimal must be moved again.

`15.5600`
It is getting closer, but it is not quite there yet. As of now, the decimal has been moved 4 places, so the answer would be `15.56*10^4`. The zeros to the right of the decimal point and at the very end of the number fall off, for they are of no importance. Yet, this number is still not where it needs to be.

`1.56600`
Finally! The number is between 1 and 10. This is now the stopping point, when you can finally determine how many times the decimal was moved, and it was moved 5 times. The final answer is `1.556*10^5`, for the decimal was moved 5 times in order for the number to be between 1 and 10.