Standard Form

Maths: Edexcel IGCSE Higher, topic 1.1.7

Standard Form

Very big numbers and very small numbers can be written in standard form. To write numbers in standard form:

Move the decimal place until there is one number in front of it

Move the decimal place until there is one number in front of it

We moved the decimal place 4 to the left so we times by 104

We moved the decimal place 4 to the left so we times by 10⁴

Move the decimal until there's one number in front of it

Move the decimal until there's one number in front of it

Decimal place moved 4 to the right so we times by 10-4

Decimal place moved 4 to the right so we times by 10^-4

Subtracting in Standard Form

What is 5.4×10¹² - 1.2×10¹¹?

Convert them to the same power of 10

Convert them to the same power of 10

The subtraction becomes this

The subtraction becomes this

Subtract the numbers

Subtract the numbers

Add the powers of 10 back in

Add the powers of 10 back in

Move decimal place to convert back to standard form

Move decimal place to convert back to standard form

Adding in Standard Form

What is 5.4×10¹² + 1.2×10¹¹?

Convert them to the same power of 10

Convert them to the same power of 10

The addition becomes this

The addition becomes this

Add the numbers

Add the numbers

Add the powers of 10 back in

Add the powers of 10 back in

Move decimal place to convert back to standard form

Move decimal place to convert back to standard form

Test yourself on Standard Form

Which of these numbers are in standard form?
Which of these numbers are in standard form?
Which of these numbers are larger in standard form?
What is 0.000046 in standard form?
What is 7200000 in standard form?

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