Can someone please help me with scientific notation?

Question

I understand how to take a normal number and make it, say 5 x 10^-8. I understand that completely.

How do you take 5 x 10^-8 and turn it into a number?

THAT is what I'm confused about.

Could you please explain to me how to do this?

Answer 1

the 10^-8 means that the real number has 8 characters. take the 5 first. you know you need 7 other numbers more, so add 7 more 0's. since it's a negative number, add a decmil point first. the 5 would be the last number, so add 7 0's before the 5, but after the decmil.

5x10^-8= .0000005

5.66x10^-5= .00566

4.2233x10^-12= .000000042233

hope i could help!

Answer 2

above is correct, but I have an easier way.

for positive exponents, eg 5.33E7 (5.33E7 is another way of writing 5.33 x10⁷)

write 5.33 and move the decimal point 7 places to the right.

so 5.33E7 ➔ 53300000. (move it 7 places to R)

negative exponents, move it that many places to the left

so 1.23E-3 ➔ 0.00123

Answer 3

ok you have to split the question into two parts.

5 and 10 E 8

you know 10 E 8 = 10 x10 x 10 x 10 x      10 x 10 x 10 x 10

100,000,000

now at end of number put a decimal...

100,000,000.0

read number from right to left. and copy again

0. 000 000 001

thats your number, now multiply by 5

0. 000 000 005