How do you convert 0.0017 to scientific notation?

1 Answer
Nov 20, 2016

#0.0017 = 1.7 × 10^"-3"#

Explanation:

Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is a standard way of writing very large and very small numbers.

A number in scientific notation has the form #N× 10^a#, where #N# is a number between 1 and 10, and #a# is a positive or negative integer.

To convert to scientific notation, you move the decimal point until the new form is a number between 1 and 10 (#N#).

Then you record the exponent (#a#) as the number of places the decimal point was moved.

If you move the decimal to the right, the exponent is negative.

Converting to scientific notation

Step 1. Move the decimal place to the right to create a new number between 1 and 10.

Moving the decimal place

This gives #N = 1.7#.

Step 2. Count the number of times you moved the decimal.

You moved the decimal 3 places to the right.

That means the exponent #a = "-3"#.

Step 3. Write the number in scientific notation.

#0.0017 = 1.7 × 10^"-3"#