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Prep 1 · Mathematics
Numbers · Powers, roots and logarithms

Scientific Notation and International System Units

Before you start, make sure you know: Operations with powers (Secondary Year 3)
Before you start, make sure you know: Operations with decimal numbers (Secondary Year 2)

The mass of the Earth is $5\,970\,000\,000\,000\,000\,000\,000\,000$ kg. The mass of an electron is $0.00000000000000000000000000000091$ kg. Nobody in a lab at UNAM or IPN writes this by counting zeros by hand: they use powers of $10$. How can these quantities be written in a short way without losing a single digit?

What scientific notation is

Travel through the scales of the universe, from the atom to the galaxy, all on the same line:

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Write the following decimal numbers in standard form: a) $450 000 000$ b) $0.000000032$ c) $12 500$ d) $0.000105$

Write the following decimal numbers in standard form:

  1. a) $450 000 000$
  2. b) $0.000000032$
  3. c) $12 500$
  4. d) $0.000105$
Solve
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State which of the following numbers are not correctly written in standard form and write them correctly: a) $45.2 \times 10^3$ b) $0.8 \times 10^{-2}$ c)…

State which of the following numbers are not correctly written in standard form and write them correctly:

  1. a) $45.2 \times 10^3$
  2. b) $0.8 \times 10^{-2}$
  3. c) $3.1 \times 10^5$
  4. d) $12 \times 10^{-4}$
Solve

Converting between scientific notation and decimal

The exponent counts how many places the decimal point moves.

Diagram of the decimal point moving: eight places to the left equals 10 to the 8 and seven places to the right equals 10 to the negative 7. 1 4 9 6 0 0 0 0 0 . 8 places to the left → 10⁸ = 1.496 · 10⁸ 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 7 places to the right → 10⁻⁷ = 1.2 · 10⁻⁷
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Express the following numbers given in standard form as ordinary decimals: a) $3.4 \times 10^5$ b) $1.89 \times 10^{-4}$ c) $7 \times 10^8$ d) $5.02 \times 10^{-6}$

Express the following numbers given in standard form as ordinary decimals:

  1. a) $3.4 \times 10^5$
  2. b) $1.89 \times 10^{-4}$
  3. c) $7 \times 10^8$
  4. d) $5.02 \times 10^{-6}$
Solve
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Determine the order of magnitude (the closest power of $10$) of the following quantities expressed in standard form: a) $4.8 \times 10^6$ b) $1.1 \times 10^{-5}$ c)…

Determine the order of magnitude (the closest power of $10$) of the following quantities expressed in standard form:

  1. a) $4.8 \times 10^6$
  2. b) $1.1 \times 10^{-5}$
  3. c) $9.2 \times 10^{12}$
  4. d) $2.5 \times 10^{-8}$
Solve

Quantities, SI units, and prefixes

A quantity is something that can be measured: the length of a highway, the mass of a package, the time of a Metro trip, the capacity of a water tank. To give its value you need a unit. The International System (SI) sets a base unit for each quantity:

Quantity SI base unit Symbol
length meter m
mass kilogram kg
time second s
capacity (volume) cubic meter (the liter is also used) m³ (L)

SI prefixes are powers of $10$ with their own names. With them, scientific notation shows up in everyday life: a cell phone with $128$ GB, a highway of $350$ km, or a medicine of $500$ mg.

Prefix Symbol Power Example
giga G $10^{9}$ $1\ \text{GB}=10^{9}$ bytes
mega M $10^{6}$ $1\ \text{MW}=10^{6}$ W
kilo k $10^{3}$ $1\ \text{km}=10^{3}$ m
milli m $10^{-3}$ $1\ \text{mg}=10^{-3}$ g
micro µ $10^{-6}$ $1\ \mu\text{m}=10^{-6}$ m
nano n $10^{-9}$ $1\ \text{nm}=10^{-9}$ m

The ratio between two quantities

The ratio between two quantities of the same kind is their quotient: how many times one fits into the other. With scientific notation, it is calculated by dividing the coefficients and subtracting the exponents. Both quantities must be in the same unit.

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An external hard drive has a storage capacity of $2$ terabytes (TB). If a high-resolution photograph occupies an average of $4 \times 10^6$ bytes, what is the maximum…

An external hard drive has a storage capacity of $2$ terabytes (TB). If a high-resolution photograph occupies an average of $4 \times 10^6$ bytes, what is the maximum number of photographs that can be stored on this hard drive?

Note: Assume that $1$ TB is equivalent to $10^{12}$ bytes.

Solve

Time conversions

Time does not use powers of $10$ to go from one unit to another. You need to know these equivalences:

Unit In seconds In scientific notation
$1$ minute $60$ s $6\times10^{1}$ s
$1$ hour $3{,}600$ s $3.6\times10^{3}$ s
$1$ day $86{,}400$ s $8.64\times10^{4}$ s

To go from seconds to a larger unit, divide by its equivalence in seconds. To go from a larger unit to seconds, multiply.

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The mean distance from the Earth to the Sun is about $1.5 \times 10^8$ km and the speed of light in a vacuum is $3 \times 10^5$ km/s. Using the formula for uniform…

The mean distance from the Earth to the Sun is about $1.5 \times 10^8$ km and the speed of light in a vacuum is $3 \times 10^5$ km/s. Using the formula for uniform motion in a straight line ($t = \frac{d}{v}$), how many seconds does it take for sunlight to reach the Earth? Express the answer in standard form and then convert it to minutes.

Solve
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A research center needs to transfer a massive backup of $4.5$ petabytes (PB) to a server in another city. The dedicated fiber-optic connection allows data to be…

A research center needs to transfer a massive backup of $4.5$ petabytes (PB) to a server in another city. The dedicated fiber-optic connection allows data to be transferred at a constant speed of $3 \times 10^8$ bytes per second. Knowing that $1$ PB is equivalent to $10^{15}$ bytes, calculate how many full days (and fraction of a day if necessary) it will take to complete the transfer. Show the intermediate calculations in scientific notation.

Solve

Comparing and ordering

The exponent comes first. Only if the exponents match do you compare the coefficient. The exponent of the nearest power of $10$ is called the order of magnitude: if the coefficient is less than about $5$, the order is $n$; if it is greater, it is closer to $n+1$.

Comparison of numbers in scientific notation: first the exponent and, if it matches, the coefficient. 10³10⁴10⁵10⁶ 1.5·10⁴ 3.2·10⁴ same exponent (4): compare the coefficient logarithmic scale: each mark is ×10
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Order the following numbers written in standard form from smallest to largest: $A = 3.2 \times 10^4$ $B = 4.1 \times 10^{-3}$ $C = 1.5 \times 10^4$…

Order the following numbers written in standard form from smallest to largest:

$A = 3.2 \times 10^4$

$B = 4.1 \times 10^{-3}$

$C = 1.5 \times 10^4$

$D = 8.9 \times 10^{-4}$

$E = 2 \times 10^5$

Solve

Multiplying and dividing

Multiplication in scientific notation: the coefficients are multiplied, the exponents are added, and the result is adjusted. (6 · 108) · (4 · 10−3) = 24 · 105 = 2.4 · 106 coefficients:are multipliedpowers:exponents are added

Multiplying and dividing: the coefficients and the powers of $10$ are operated on separately (the exponents are added when multiplying and subtracted when dividing). At the end, adjust the coefficient if it falls outside $[1, 10)$.

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Perform the following multiplications by grouping the numbers and the powers of base $10$. Express the final result in standard form: a)…

Perform the following multiplications by grouping the numbers and the powers of base $10$. Express the final result in standard form:

  1. a) $(3 \times 10^4) \times (2 \times 10^5)$
  2. b) $(4 \times 10^{-3}) \times (2 \times 10^{-4})$
  3. c) $(5 \times 10^6) \times (3 \times 10^{-2})$
Solve
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Carry out the following divisions and give the answer in standard form: a) $(8 \times 10^7) : (2 \times 10^3)$ b) $(9 \times 10^{-4}) : (3 \times 10^{-2})$ c)…

Carry out the following divisions and give the answer in standard form:

  1. a) $(8 \times 10^7) : (2 \times 10^3)$
  2. b) $(9 \times 10^{-4}) : (3 \times 10^{-2})$
  3. c) $(1.5 \times 10^5) : (3 \times 10^8)$
Solve
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Solve the following combined operation respecting the order of operations and give the final result in standard form:…

Solve the following combined operation respecting the order of operations and give the final result in standard form:

$\frac{(4.2 \times 10^5) \times (2 \times 10^{-3})}{3 \times 10^4}$

Solve

Adding and subtracting

Adding and subtracting require the powers of $10$ to be the same; if they are not, make them equal first. Then operate on the coefficients and keep the power the same.

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Calculate the following additions and subtractions that have the same exponent in the power of $10$: a) $4.2 \times 10^5 + 3.1 \times 10^5$ b)…

Calculate the following additions and subtractions that have the same exponent in the power of $10$:

  1. a) $4.2 \times 10^5 + 3.1 \times 10^5$
  2. b) $8.7 \times 10^{-3} - 2.5 \times 10^{-3}$
  3. c) $5.5 \times 10^8 + 4.5 \times 10^8$
Solve
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Calculate the following additions and subtractions with different exponents, first adjusting the powers of $10$ so that they match. Express the answer in standard form:…

Calculate the following additions and subtractions with different exponents, first adjusting the powers of $10$ so that they match. Express the answer in standard form:

  1. a) $3.5 \times 10^6 + 4.2 \times 10^5$
  2. b) $7.1 \times 10^{-4} - 5 \times 10^{-5}$
Solve
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Carry out the following combined operation with additions and subtractions in the numerator and denominator. Express the final result strictly in standard form:…

Carry out the following combined operation with additions and subtractions in the numerator and denominator. Express the final result strictly in standard form:

$\frac{3.6 \times 10^{12} + 4.1 \times 10^{11}}{2 \times 10^{-3} - 5 \times 10^{-4}}$

Solve

Problems with real data

In problems, first translate the data into scientific notation and into a single unit, then operate, and finally interpret the result with its units. If the problem asks for the result in "ordinary" form, convert it at the end.

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A human red blood cell has an approximate diameter of $7.5 \times 10^{-6}$ meters. If in a laboratory experiment we managed to align $4 \times 10^6$ red blood cells end…

A human red blood cell has an approximate diameter of $7.5 \times 10^{-6}$ meters. If in a laboratory experiment we managed to align $4 \times 10^6$ red blood cells end to end, what length in meters would the row reach? Express the answer in scientific notation and in ordinary decimal format.

Solve
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The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a European country amounts to $1.2 \times 10^{12}$ pesos. If the total population of the country is $4 \times 10^7$ inhabitants, what…

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a European country amounts to $1.2 \times 10^{12}$ pesos. If the total population of the country is $4 \times 10^7$ inhabitants, what is the GDP per capita (pesos per inhabitant)? Express the answer in scientific notation and in ordinary pesos.

Solve
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A reservoir for human consumption contains $4.5 \times 10^3$ cubic hectometers ($hm^3$). Knowing that $1$ $hm^3$ is equivalent to $10^9$ liters, express the total…

A reservoir for human consumption contains $4.5 \times 10^3$ cubic hectometers ($hm^3$). Knowing that $1$ $hm^3$ is equivalent to $10^9$ liters, express the total capacity of the reservoir in liters using scientific notation. If the city it supplies consumes $5 \times 10^7$ liters of water daily, for how many days are there sufficient reserves?

Solve

Equations with scientific notation

Solving for an unknown works the same as always; just watch the powers of $10$ when adding, subtracting, and dividing.

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Set up and solve the following linear equation in which the coefficients are expressed in standard form. Rearrange for the unknown $x$ and express its value in standard…

Set up and solve the following linear equation in which the coefficients are expressed in standard form. Rearrange for the unknown $x$ and express its value in standard form:

$(2.5 \times 10^4) \times x + 3 \times 10^5 = 1.8 \times 10^6$

Solve

Science and astronomy

Physics formulas are evaluated the same way: substitute the data in scientific notation and operate with the rules of powers. Remember that an exponent in the formula (such as $R^3$ or $v^2$) affects both the coefficient and the power of $10$: $(a\times10^n)^k=a^k\times10^{nk}$.

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To make astronomical estimates, the Earth can be approximated as a perfect sphere with a radius of $R = 6.37 \times 10^3$ km. Knowing that the volume of a sphere is…

To make astronomical estimates, the Earth can be approximated as a perfect sphere with a radius of $R = 6.37 \times 10^3$ km. Knowing that the volume of a sphere is calculated using the formula $V = \frac{4}{3}\pi R^3$, calculate the volume of the Earth in $km^3$. Express the final result in standard form rounded to two decimal places. (Use $\pi \approx 3.14$).

Solve
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The kinetic energy ($E_c$) of a moving body is calculated using the expression $E_c = \frac{1}{2} m v^2$, where $m$ is the mass in kg and $v$ is the speed in m/s.…

The kinetic energy ($E_c$) of a moving body is calculated using the expression $E_c = \frac{1}{2} m v^2$, where $m$ is the mass in kg and $v$ is the speed in m/s. Calculate the kinetic energy of an asteroid of mass $m = 4.5 \times 10^{14}$ kg travelling through space at a speed of $v = 2 \times 10^4$ m/s. Express the answer in Joules (J) using standard form.

Solve
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Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation states that the gravitational force between two bodies is given by $F = G \frac{m_1 \times m_2}{d^2}$. Knowing that the…

Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation states that the gravitational force between two bodies is given by $F = G \frac{m_1 \times m_2}{d^2}$.

Knowing that the gravitational constant is $G = 6.67 \times 10^{-11}$ $N \times m^2/kg^2$, the mass of the Earth is $m_1 = 5.97 \times 10^{24}$ kg, the mass of the Moon is $m_2 = 7.35 \times 10^{22}$ kg and the mean distance between their centers is $d = 3.84 \times 10^8$ m, calculate the gravitational force $F$ in Newtons ($N$). Express the result in standard form rounded to two decimal places.

Solve

Ratios and growth models

With scientific notation you can also compare masses ($m_1/m_2$) and model growth.

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In particle physics, it is known that the mass of an electron is approximately $9.1 \times 10^{-31}$ kg and the mass of a proton is about $1.67 \times 10^{-27}$ kg.…

In particle physics, it is known that the mass of an electron is approximately $9.1 \times 10^{-31}$ kg and the mass of a proton is about $1.67 \times 10^{-27}$ kg. Calculate how many times more massive a proton is than an electron. Express the solution in standard form to two decimal places.

Solve
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A newly uploaded video has $5 \times 10^4$ views and it is observed that this figure doubles every day. If the growth follows the model $V = V_0 \times 2^t$ (where $t$…

A newly uploaded video has $5 \times 10^4$ views and it is observed that this figure doubles every day. If the growth follows the model $V = V_0 \times 2^t$ (where $t$ is the number of days), how many views will there be after $10$ days? Express the final result in standard form. (Helpful fact: $2^{10} = 1024$).

Solve
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A glass contains exactly $18$ grams of pure water ($H_2O$). In chemistry, it is known that $18$ grams are equivalent to $1$ mol of water and that $1$ mol of any…

A glass contains exactly $18$ grams of pure water ($H_2O$). In chemistry, it is known that $18$ grams are equivalent to $1$ mol of water and that $1$ mol of any substance contains Avogadro's Number ($6.022 \times 10^{23}$) of molecules. From these data, calculate the mass in kilograms of a single molecule of water. Express the final result in standard form.

Solve

Back to the beginning: the mass of the Earth is $5.97 \times 10^{24}$ kg and that of the electron is $9.1 \times 10^{-31}$ kg. With powers of $10$ they fit on one line.

Summary

See all the exercises in this section