Scientific Notation Math Example 1

Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.

Example 1

easy
Write 0.000470.00047 in scientific notation.

Solution

  1. 1
    Move the decimal point right until we have a number between 1 and 10: 4.74.7.
  2. 2
    Count the places moved: 4 places to the right, so the exponent is −4-4.
  3. 3
    Result: 4.7×10−44.7 \times 10^{-4}.

Answer

4.7×10−44.7 \times 10^{-4}
Scientific notation expresses a number as a×10na \times 10^n where 1≤a<101 \leq a < 10. Moving the decimal right gives a negative exponent; moving it left gives a positive exponent.

About Scientific Notation

A way of writing very large or very small numbers as a×10na \times 10^n, where 1≤∣a∣<101 \leq |a| < 10 and nn is an integer.

Learn more about Scientific Notation →

More Scientific Notation Examples

Example 2 medium

Compute [formula] and express the answer in scientific notation.

Example 3 easy

Convert [formula] to standard form and identify what famous constant this represents.

Example 4 easy

Write [formula] in scientific notation.

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