Scientific Notation Tutorial

Powers of 10 Notation

Do you recognize the pattern?

Decimal

Fraction

Reciprocal

Powers of Ten

0.1

1 / 10

1 / 101

10-1

0.01

1 / 100

1 / 102

10-2

0.001

1 / 1000

1 / 103

10-3

0.0001

1 / 10,000

1 / 104

10-4

0.000001

1 / 1,000,000

1 / 106

10-6

0.000000001

1 / 1,000,000,000

1 / 109

10-9

Here's a quick and easy way to recognize the pattern:

10-2 = 0.01, which has 1 zero between the decimal point and the 1

10-3 = 0.001, which has 2 zeroes between the decimal point and the 1

10-6 = 0.000001, which has 5 zeroes between the decimal point and the 1

 

Using this pattern, write the following in powers of 10 notation:

  1. 0.0000001 = ?

  2. 0.0000000000000001 = ?

And these in decimal notation:

  1. 10-8 = ?

  2. 10-19 = ?

Now check your answers and move on.

Questions? Ask the designer, Jim Heath

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