How do you write a number in exponential notation?

Answer 1

Choose the actual number part in the number. These would be the significant digits.

Write that number with a decimal point after the first digit. Then multiply by a power of ten to push the decimal point back to where it should be.

Example

602 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 is a chemist's favorite number.

Take the actual number 602

Write with decimal point after first digit 6.02

Multiply by a power of ten to put the decimal point back. Look at the original number. There are 23 places after the 6 (including the 02) so multiply by 1023

6.02 x 1023

If the number is small like 0.000 000 023 456

23456 is the actual number

2.3456 has the decimal

seven zero's and the 2 are the places to move past. Notice the decimal will move left so the exponent is negative

2.3456 x 10-8