ACT Math : How to convert decimals to scientific notation

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Other Decimals

Write the number 450,000 in scientific notation.

Possible Answers:

4.5 x 106

45 x 106

45 x 105

4.5 x 105

450 x 106

Correct answer:

4.5 x 105

Explanation:

450,000 = 4.5 x 100,000

100,000 = 105 (exponent is equal to the number of zeros)

450,000 = 4.5 x 105

Example Question #2 : How To Convert Decimals To Scientific Notation

If 3.0147 * 10n = 3,014,700,000, then =

Possible Answers:

8

–8

9

2

–4

Correct answer:

9

Explanation:

To determine this answer, move the decimal point in 3.0147 until you get 3,014,700,000 (9 places). There are 9 decimal places after the decimal point.

Example Question #1 : How To Convert Decimals To Scientific Notation

Write the following number in scientific notation:

\dpi{100} \small 175,000,000

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small 1.75 \times 10^{7}

\dpi{100} \small 17.5 \times 10^{7}

\dpi{100} \small 175 \times 10^{6}

\dpi{100} \small .175 \times 10^{5}

\dpi{100} \small 1.75 \times 10^{8}

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small 1.75 \times 10^{8}

Explanation:

Slide the decimal point to the left as many places as you need to make a number between 1 and 10. Multiply that number by 10 to the power of however many decimal places you moved the decimal. 

Example Question #1 : Other Decimals

What is  equal to in scientific notation?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #1 : How To Convert Decimals To Scientific Notation

Write  in scientific notation.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We want to move the decimal point to the place just after the first non-zero number, in this case 6, and then drop all of the non-significant zeros. We need to move the decimal point five spaces to the right, so our exponent should be negative.  If the decimal had moved left, we would have had a positive exponent.  

In this case we get 6.009 * 105.

Example Question #2 : How To Convert Decimals To Scientific Notation

 is equal to which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We need to convert  into a number of the form .

The trick is, however, figuring out what  should be. When you have to move your decimal point to the right, you need to make the decimal negative. (Note, though, when you multiply by a negative decimal, you move to the left. We are thinking in "reverse" because we are converting.)

Therefore, for our value, . So, our value is:

Example Question #2 : How To Convert Decimals To Scientific Notation

 is equal to which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The easiest way to do this is to convert each of your answer choices into scientific notion and compare it to .

For each of the answer choices, this would give us:

 (Which is, thus, the answer.)

When you convert, you add for each place that you move to the left and subtract for each place you move to the right. (Note that this is opposite of what you do when you multiply out the answer. We are thinking in "reverse" because we are converting.)

Example Question #3 : How To Convert Decimals To Scientific Notation

If , what is ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a bit of a scientific notation application test.

Because  is in the ones place , , and because is in the hundredths place , .

From there, it becomes self-explanatory:

.

Remember to take care that you do not give or instead of .

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