Question

Convert the number to scientific notation.
120,000,000,000,000

Answer 1

1.2 x
`10^(14)`

Explanation:

Scientific notation OR standard form:

This is expressed in powers of 10 (i.e
`10^(x)`)

If the decimal point cannot be visibly seen, you can deduce that the decimal point is currently located after the last digit (i.e ‘0’).

For the number to be expressed in scientific notation, the decimal point has to be placed right after the first digit (which is NOT a zero) in the left most direction.

For this number, the decimal point has to be placed right after the ‘1’. Therefore, the decimal point will be moving 14 places to the left. In addition, this 14 is considered as the positive power of 10.

Answer 2

1.2 × 10¹⁴

Explanation:

Scientific notation is written in the form
`a * 10^n`, where
`1 \leq a < 10` and
`n` is any positive or negative whole number.

To convert a number into scientific notation, move the decimal point to the left or right until there is one non-zero digit to the left of the decimal point.

The number of times you have moved the decimal point is the power of 10 (the value of n).

• If the decimal point has moved to the left, n is positive.
• If the decimal point has moved to the right, n is negative.

Therefore, to convert 120,000,000,000,000 to scientific notation, move the decimal point 14 places to the left so that
`a` is 1.2.

As the decimal point has been moved 14 places the left, we need to multiply 1.2 by 10¹⁴.

Therefore, 120,000,000,000,000 = 1.2 × 10¹⁴.