Explanation:
Scientific notation is a way to express very large or very small numbers in a more concise and manageable format. It is commonly used in scientific and mathematical calculations.
To convert a number into scientific notation, follow these steps:
1. Identify the coefficient: The coefficient is a decimal number between 1 and 10 that will be multiplied by a power of 10.
2. Determine the exponent: The exponent represents the power of 10 by which the coefficient is multiplied.
3. Write the number in scientific notation: Combine the coefficient and the exponent using the format "coefficient × 10^exponent".
For example, let's convert the number 45,000,000 to scientific notation:
1. Identify the coefficient: The coefficient is 4.5 since we want a number between 1 and 10.
2. Determine the exponent: To express 45,000,000 as 4.5 × 10^7, we need to multiply the coefficient by 10 raised to the power of 7.
3. Write the number in scientific notation: The number 45,000,000 can be written as 4.5 × 10^7 in scientific notation.
On the other hand, if we have a small number like 0.000025, we can convert it to scientific notation as follows:
1. Identify the coefficient: The coefficient is 2.5 since we want a number between 1 and 10.
2. Determine the exponent: To express 0.000025 as 2.5 × 10^-5, we need to multiply the coefficient by 10 raised to the power of -5.
3. Write the number in scientific notation: The number 0.000025 can be written as 2.5 × 10^-5 in scientific notation.
In summary, scientific notation provides a convenient way to express very large or very small numbers by using a coefficient and an exponent. The coefficient is a decimal number between 1 and 10, and the exponent represents the power of 10 by which the coefficient is multiplied. By converting numbers into scientific notation, we can make them easier to work with and compare in scientific and mathematical calculations.