Scientific Notation Tutorial

Addition and Subtraction

Here are the answers:

  1. 1.5 X 104 + 5.4 X 105 = 0.15 X 105 + 5.4 X 105 = (5.4 + 0.15) X 105 = 5.55 X 105

  2. 4.46 X 10-7 + 5.9 X 10-5 = 0.446X 10-6 + 5.9 X 10-5 = 0.0446 X 10-5 + 5.9 X 10-5 =
    (5.9 + 0.0446) X 10-5 = 5.9446 X 10-5

  3. 8.4 X 1021 + 9.455 X 1024 = 0.84 X 1022 + 9.455 X 1024 = 0.084 X 1023 + 9.455 X 1024 =
    0.0084 X 1024 + 9.455 X 1024 = (0.0084 + 9.455) X 1024 = 9.4634 X 1024

  4. 5.14 X 104 - 2.49 X 102 = 5.14 X 104 - 0.249 X 103 = 5.14 X 104 - 0.0249 X 104 =
    (5.14 - 0.0249) X 104 = (5.14 - 0.0249) X 104 = 5.1151 X 104

  5. 8.45 X 1064 - 4.5 X 1063 = 8.45 X 1064 - 0.45 X 1064 = (8.45 - 0.45) X 1064 = 8 X 1064

  6. 8.46 X 107 - 7.94 X 109 = 0.846 X 108 - 7.94 X 109 = 0.0846 X 109 - 7.94 X 109 =
    (0.0846 - 7.94) X 109 = - 7.8554 X 109

  7. 7.54 X 103 + 6.49 X 102 +4.96 X 105 + 9.32 X 104 =
    0.754 X 104 + 0.649 X 103 +4.96 X 105 + 0.932 X 105 =
    0.0754 X 105 + 0.0649 X 104 +4.96 X 105 + 0.932 X 105 =
    0.0754 X 105 + 0.00649 X 105 +4.96 X 105 + 0.932 X 105 =
    (0.0754 + 0.00649 + 4.96 + 0.932) X 105 = 5.97389 X 105

  8. 9.4 X 10-8 - 7.6 X 10-9+ 8.6 X 10-7 = 0.94 X 10-7 - 0.76 X 10-8+ 8.6 X 10-7 =
    0.94 X 10-7 - 0.076 X 10-7+ 8.6 X 10-7 = (0.94 - 0.076 + 8.6) X 10-7 =
    (0.94 - 0.076 + 8.6) X 10-7 = (0.864 + 8.6) X 10-7 = 9.464 X 10-7

Note how in the last example, we did the subtraction first, then the addition. As with "regular" numbers, we work from left to right.

Now move on the final part of the scientific notation tutorial.

 

Questions? Ask the designer, Jim Heath

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