(1.2×10^2) + (3.04×10^5)
They must be to the same power to add
3.04 *10^5 to change to the 2nd power (5-2=3) move the decimal 3 places to the right = 3040. * 10^2
1.2 * 10^2 + 3040 *10^2=
add the numbers keep the exponents the same
3041.2 * 10^2
there can only be 1 number before the decimal in scientific notation so we need to move the decimal 3 places to the left, which adds 3 to the exponent
3.0412 * 10 ^ (2+3)
3.0412 * 10^5