How do you express #1,220,000# in scientific notation?

3 Answers
Oct 11, 2017

#1.22xx10^6#

Explanation:

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

Let’s move the decimal point until we have a number between #1# and #10#:

Start with: #1220000.0#

Once: #122000.00#

Twice: #12200.000#

Three times: #1220.0000#

Four times: #122.00000#

Five times: #12.200000#

Six times: #1.2200000# This number is between 1 and 10

#1220000=1.22xx10^6# because you moved the decimal place 6 times to the left

Oct 11, 2017

#1.22*10^6#

Explanation:

From what I understand, scientific notation is about simplifying big numbers to make them manageable. Maybe an easier way to think about it would be shrinking it to only have one number in front of the decimal. In this case, 1,220,000 can shrink down to #1.22*10^6# because only the 1 is left in front of the decimal, and when you multiply 1.22 by #10^6# you get your original answer

Oct 11, 2017

#1.22xx10^6#

Explanation:

Start with the number in standard form: 1 220 000

Move the decimal from its current location (to the right of the final zero) until there is only exactly one digit to the left of the decimal. That is, 1.22

Finally, count how many places the decimal moved in making this change - six in this case. This means 1 220 000 is equal to
1.22 x 10 x10 x10 x10 x10 x10.

and since we can write all those multiples of 10 as #10^6#, the value in scientific notation is #1.22xx10^6#