How to write scientific notation
Scientific notation is a compact way to write very large or very small numbers. Every number is shown as a coefficient between 1 and 10, multiplied by a power of ten. It keeps long strings of zeros manageable and is standard in science and engineering.
The rule
Move the decimal point so one non-zero digit sits in front of it, then count how many places you moved. That count is the exponent: positive for large numbers, negative for small ones.
Worked example
The number 12,345 becomes 1.2345 x 10^4, because the decimal moved four places to the left. A small number like 0.0025 becomes 2.5 x 10^-3.
Frequently asked questions
What is scientific notation?
A way of writing numbers as a coefficient between 1 and 10 times a power of ten, such as 1.2345 x 10^4. It makes very large or small numbers easier to handle.
What does the exponent mean?
How many places the decimal point moved. A positive exponent means a large number; a negative exponent means a number smaller than one.
How is it different from standard form?
They are the same thing. Standard form is the name used in the UK and some other countries for scientific notation.