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Maths Written Assessment

The document defines scientific notation and provides examples of its use. Scientific notation is a way to write very large or small numbers in a simplified decimal form using exponents of 10. Positive exponents indicate numbers greater than 1, while negative exponents are less than 1. Examples are given of scientific notation being used in science, astronomy, and medicine to more easily convey very large or small values.

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Zackary Stewart
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124 views5 pages

Maths Written Assessment

The document defines scientific notation and provides examples of its use. Scientific notation is a way to write very large or small numbers in a simplified decimal form using exponents of 10. Positive exponents indicate numbers greater than 1, while negative exponents are less than 1. Examples are given of scientific notation being used in science, astronomy, and medicine to more easily convey very large or small values.

Uploaded by

Zackary Stewart
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MA1022 Written Assessment: Scientific Notation

Part A: Definition of Scientific Notation

Scientific Notation

Scientific Notation is a simpler way of representing very small numbers or very big numbers
into a decimal form. In Scientific Notation, all the numbers are written in the form where the
exponent is an integer and the coefficient is any number from 1-10. The second part of
Scientific Notation is always multiplied by 10 to the power of any number from 1-10, this
indicates where the number originally was.

(Figure 1: ChilliMath)

The exponent refers to how many times you have moved the decimal point and in which
direction.

101 = 10
102 = 100
103 = 1,000, and so on.

Different form of Scientific Notation

Scientific Notation can also be expressed as E (for exponent), an example would be 2.5e+5
(meaning 2.5 x 105) and 2.5e-5 would mean 2.5 x 10-5.

(Figure 2: Inch Calculator)


A positive Scientific Notation will be perceived as 1.23 x 104, meanwhile a negative
Scientific Notation will be perceived as 1.23 x 10-4. The negative sign indicates the number is
less than 1.

(Figure 3: CalcWorkshop)
Part B: Annotated Procedure

To write a number in scientific notation, move the decimal point to the first non-zero in the
number, for example 2,780,418 would then be 2.780418 then multiply the decimal by 10
raised to power of how many times you moved the decimal. So, for example, when we
moved the decimal to make 2.780418 we moved the decimal 6 times. We would then we
multiply the decimal by 10 to the power of 6. So, in final it should look like this: 2.780418 x
106.

(Figure 4: Lumen)

Working with smaller numbers is very similar, just instead of the moving the decimal left we
move it right. For example, let’s say we had the number 0.00000000000047 we would then
move the decimal to the first non-zero. It should then look like 4.7, since we moved the
decimal 13 times that’s what the power of the 10 will be. So, the final product should look
like: 4.7 x 10-13.
Part C: Examples of Scientific Notation being used in chosen disciplines

There a many examples of Scientific Notation being used in the workplace, here are some
examples.

Let’s say a scientist was trying to measure how many atoms are in a copper penny, the
answer would be 28,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms. Instead of writing the long number
you could use Scientific Notation to make it much easier to read and understand. So instead
of 28,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 we could simply say 2.8 × 1022.

Another example would be if an Astronomer was trying to explain how much weight of
material are in the Milky Way Galaxy. Instead of saying 3 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000
000 000 000 000 000 tons of material they could just say 3 × 1039 tons of material using
Scientific Notation.

I’m hoping to further my studies in Medicine, the medical field will use Scientific Notations a
lot. One example would be if I was trying to explain the size of bacteria(s), instead of writing
0.000002 I’d use Scientific Notation to make it from 0.00002 to 2 x 10-6 or 2e-6 and therefore
make my report easier to understand.
CalcWorkshop (2020). How to do Scientific Notation? 25 Surefire Example. [Picture of

positive and negative examples]. https://calcworkshop.com/exponents/scientific-

notation/

ChiliMath. How to Write Numbers in Scientific Notations. [Picture of scientific notation].

https://www.chilimath.com/lessons/introductory-algebra/writing-numbers-in-

scientific-notation/

Inch Calculator. Scientific Notation Calculator and Decimal Conversion. [Picture of different

form of scientific notation]. https://www.inchcalculator.com/scientific-notation-

calculator/

Lumen, Exponents and Scientific Notation. [Picture of decimals moving in scientific

notation]. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/ivytech-collegealgebra/chapter/using-

scientific-notation/

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