Final answer:
Scientific notation offers advantages over decimal notation by allowing the expression of very large or small numbers in a convenient way. It simplifies arithmetic operations and is commonly used in scientific measurements.
Step-by-step explanation:
One advantage of using scientific notation over decimal notation is that it allows us to express very large or very small numbers more conveniently. In scientific notation, a number is written as a coefficient (a number between 1 and 10) multiplied by a power of ten. This makes it easier to work with numbers with a wide range of magnitudes.
Scientific notation also simplifies arithmetic operations. To multiply two numbers expressed in scientific notation, you only need to multiply the coefficients and add the exponents. For example, (3 × 10^5) × (2 × 10^0) = 6 × 10^14.
Furthermore, scientists frequently use scientific notation because it allows for a concise and convenient representation of physical measurements in the universe, such as the distance from Earth to the moon or the nearest star.