Final answer:
When the exponent is negative, the decimal point moves to the left because the number represented is a small fraction less than one. This shifting of the decimal is seen in scientific notation where a negative exponent means that the decimal point is moved to the left by the absolute value of the exponent.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the exponent is negative, the decimal moves to the left because the number is extremely small. A negative exponent indicates that we are dealing with a fraction or a number less than one. In scientific notation, a negative exponent suggests that the decimal point needs to be moved to the left by the absolute value of the exponent to convert the number to its standard form. For example, the scientific notation 2.4 x 10-2 means that you move the decimal point two places to the left to get the equivalent number 0.024.To remember this, consider that when we have an exponent of -n, it is the same as writing 1 divided by 10 raised to the power of n (1 x 10-n). Hence, if we have a number like 1.6 x 10-3, we would move the decimal point three places to the left, obtaining 0.0016.