How do you use scientific notation to compute products and quotients?

1 Answer
Mar 26, 2015

Scientific notation is of the form #a*10^n#

What you do when you multiply is:
(1) you multiply the #a#'s
(2) you add the #n#'s (look at the signs!)

Example:
#(2.0*10^3)*(1.55*10^2)=(2.0*1.55)*10^(3+2)=3.1*10^5#

What you do when you divide is:
(1) you divide the #a#'s
(2) you subtract the #n#'s (look at the signs!)

Example:
#(3.1*10^5)/(2.0*10^3)=(3.1/2.0)*10^(5-3)=1.55*10^2#

Extra:
When there are negative signs in the exponents #n# you proceed just the same, but you have to be more careful.