How do you write 123,000,000 in scientific notation?

1 Answer
Dec 27, 2015

#1.23 xx 10^8#

Explanation:

To find the exponent, count the number of time you need to shift the number one digit to the right before the result is less than #10#.

In our example, #123,000,000# needs to be shifted to the right #8# times before the result #1.23# is less than #10#, so #123,000,000 = 1.23 xx 10^8#

If the number you start with is less than #1#, then count the number of times you need to shift it to the left before the result is greater than or equal to #1#. For example, #0.00123 = 1.23 xx 10^(-3)#