How to Change Numbers Into and Out of Scientific Notation

Co-authored by JohnK Wright V

Last Updated: May 24, 2023 References

Scientific notation is commonly used in chemistry and physics to represent very large or very small numbers. Changing numbers into and out of scientific notation isn't as hard as it looks. Just follow these steps to find out how to do it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Converting Numbers Into Scientific Notation

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You'll need to start with a very small or a very large number if you want to successfully convert it into scientific notation. For example, 10,090,250,000,000 is very large; 0.00004205 is very small.^{[1]
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This is the first step to beginning to convert the number into scientific notation. If you're working with the number 0.00004205, just write an "x" over the decimal point.^{[2]
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Add a new decimal point to the number so that there's only one non-zero digit in front of it. In this case, the first non-zero number is 4, so place the decimal point after the 4 so that the new number reads 000004.205.^{[3]
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- This works for large numbers, too. For example, 10,090,250,000,000 would become 1.0090250000000.
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Rewrite this number to drop any insignificant digits. Insignificant digits are any zeros that are not in between other, non-zero digits.^{[4]
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- For example, in the number 1.0090250000000, the zeroes at the end are insignificant, but the zeros between the 1 and then 9, and between the 9 and the 2, are significant. Rewrite this number as 1.009025.
- In the number 000004.205, the leading zeros are insignificant. Rewrite this number as 4.205.
Just write 4.205 x 10 for now.
In the case of 0.00004205 to 4.205, you moved the decimal point over 5 times. In the case of 10,090,250,000,000 to 1.0090250000000, you moved the decimal point 13 times.^{[5]
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For 1.0090250000000, write x 10¹³. For 4.25, write x 10⁵.^{[6]
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Decide if the exponent should be negative or positive. If your original number was very large, the exponent should be positive. If your original number was very small, the exponent should be negative.^{[7]
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- For example: the very large number 10,090,250,000,000 becomes 1.009025 x 10 ¹³ while the very small number 0.00004205 becomes 4.205 x 10^-5.
This depends on how certain you need to be in your answer. For example, 1.009025 x 10¹³ might be better off as 1.009 x 10¹³ or even as 1.01 x 10¹³, depending on how accurate you need to be.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Converting Numbers from Scientific Notation

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If the exponent on the "x 10" part of the number is positive, then you will be moving the decimal places to the right; if the exponent is negative, you will be moving the decimal places to the left.^{[8]
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JohnK Wright V
Texas Certified Math Teacher

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In the case of the number 5.2081 x 10¹², you will be moving the decimal point over five spaces to the right. If the exponent is a -7, you move left seven places; if the exponent is a 5, move right five places.^{[9]
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JohnK Wright V
Texas Certified Math Teacher

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You may have to add them in front of or behind the number, depending on whether you are moving left or right.^{[10]
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JohnK Wright V
Texas Certified Math Teacher

Expert Interview} If you're moving the decimal point over 12 spaces to the right from the number 5.2081, then the new number becomes 5208100000000.
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JohnK Wright V
Texas Certified Math Teacher

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Go through the digits, from right to left, putting a comma in front of every group of three digits. For example, 5208100000000 becomes 5,208,100,000,000.

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Question

How do I know the number of significant figures?

Donagan

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The number of digits in the decimal number is the number of significant digits.

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What is 24 in scientific notation?

Donagan

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24 = 2.4 x 10.

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How would I convert 1.23 x 10^-5 to 1.23 x 10^5?

Donagan

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Multiply by 10^10.

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