Question

Which describes the correct procedure when converting a number from scientific notation to standard notation if the

power of 10 is -107

Answer 1

When we have a number in scientific notation like:

Ax10^n.

If n is positive, we need to add n zeros to the right of the value of A (before the decimal point)

Now, if n is negative, we need to add the decimal point n times to the left.

When we do not have any more digits in A to move the decimal point, we start to add zeros.

So for example, if we have:

7.42x10^-5

we move the decimal point 5 times to the left.

7.42x10^-5 = 0.742x10^-4 = 0.0742x10^-3 = 0.00742x10^-2

= 0.000742x10^-1 = 0.0000742.

So if we have n = -107

We move the decimal point to the left until we run out of digits in the number A, after that point, we start adding zeros in between the digits of A and the decimal point, until the number of times we moved the decimal point plus the number of zeros that we added is equal to 107.