1.1.3

Standard Form

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Standard Form

Standard form is a way of making it easier to write very big and very small numbers. n (the power of 10) tells us the number of places to move the decimal point.

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Example 1

  • To find the number that 3.7 x103 represents, we move the decimal point 3 spaces to the right: 3.7.... 37... 370 ... 3700.
    • E.g. 3.7 x103 represents 3700.
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Example 2

  • To find the number that 5.3 x10-2 represents, we move the decimal point 2 spaces to the left: 5.3... 0.53... 0.053.
    • E.g. 5.3 x10-2 represents 0.053.
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Adding and subtracting

  • To add or subtract numbers in standard form:
    • Write the numbers in non-standard form.
    • Add or subtract.
    • Change back to standard form.
      • E.g. (5.3 x106) + (5.3 x106) = 5,300,000 + 5,300,000 = 10,600,000
        = 1.06 x107
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Multiplying

  • To multiply numbers in standard form:
    • Multiply the leading numbers.
    • Add the powers.
    • Change into the correct format.
      • E.g. (3 x106) x (3 x104) = 9 x1010
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Dividing

  • To divide numbers in standard form:
    • Divide the leading numbers.
    • Subtract the powers.
    • Change into the correct format.
      • E.g. (6 x107) รท (2 x103) = 3 x104

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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