Scientific Notation to Standard Notation Support Page

Example 1) Convert 5.4 x 10³ to standard notation.

Step 1) The exponent tells us how many places to the left or right to move the coefficient.

The exponent is 3 so the coefficient needs to move 3 places to the left.

• One place to the left would be 54.
• Two places to the left would be 540.
• Three places to the left would be 5400.

So our final answer is 5.4 x 10³ = 5400

Example 2) Convert 2.9 x 10^-2 to standard notation

Step 1) The exponent tells us how many places to the left or right to move the coefficient.

The exponent is -2 so the coefficient needs to move 2 places to the right.

• One place to the right would be 0.29
• Two places to the right would be 0.029

So our final answer is 2.9 x 10^-2 = 0.029

Example 3) Convert -6 x 10⁵ to standard notation

Step 1) The exponent tells us how many places to the left or right to move the coefficient.

The exponent is 5 so the coefficient needs to move 5 places to the left.

• One place to the left would be -60
• Two places to the left would be -600
• 3 places to the left would be -6,000
• 4 places to the left would be -60,000
• 5 places to the left would be -600,000

So our final answer is -6 x 10⁵ = -600,000

Example 4) Convert 9.243 x 10^-4 to scientific notation

Step 1) The exponent tells us how many places to the left or right to move the coefficient.

The exponent is -4 so we need to move the coefficient 4 places to the right.

• One place to the right would be 0.9243
• Two places to the right would be 0.09243
• 3 places to the right would be 0.009243
• 4 places to the right would be 0.0009243

So our final answer is 9.243 x 10^-4 = 0.0009243

Example 5) Convert -3.7 x 10⁰ to scientific notation

Step 1) The exponent tells us how many places to the left or right to move the coefficient.

10⁰ = 1 so this just has the effect of multiplying the coefficient by 1, so it stays the same value.

The exponent is 0 so we dont' need to move the coefficient at all.

So our final answer is -3.7 x 10⁰ = -3.7 x 1 = -3.7

Example 6) Convert -3.7 x 10⁰ to scientific notation

Step 1) The exponent tells us how many places to the left or right to move the coefficient.

10⁰ = 1 so this just has the effect of multiplying the coefficient by 1, so it stays the same value.

The exponent is 0 so we dont' need to move the coefficient at all.

So our final answer is -3.7 x 10⁰ = -3.7 x 1 = -3.7

Example 7) Convert 6.35 x 10¹ to scientific notation

Step 1) The exponent tells us how many places to the left or right to move the coefficient.

The exponent is 1 so we need to move the coefficient 1 places to the left.

10¹ = 10, so 6.35 x 10¹ = 6.35 x 10

• One place to the left would be 63.5

So our final answer is 6.35 x 10¹ = 63.5

Example 8) Convert 8 x 10¹² to scientific notation

Step 1) The exponent tells us how many places to the left or right to move the coefficient.

The exponent is 8 so we need to move the coefficient 8 places to the left.

• One place to the left would be 80.
• Two places to the left would be 800.
• So 12 places to the left would be 8,000,000,000,000 (or 8 with 12 zeros).

So our final answer is 4.206 x 10⁶ = 4,206,000