Revision Topic 10: Standard Form Writing Numbers in Standard Form

Standard (index) form is a convenient way to write large numbers (like 230,000,000,000) and small numbers (like 0.000 000 06). Standard form notation is a 10 n where: a is a number between 1 and 10, and n is an integer (i.e. a positive or negative whole number). (1) Writing large numbers in standard form: The power of 10 is one less than the number of digits (to the left of the decimal point): e.g. 230,000,000,000 = 2.3 10 11 (there are 12 digits, so the power of 10 is 11) Put a decimal point after first digit e.g.2 e.g.3 e.g 4 7,265,000 = 7.265 10 6
8.13 10 5 =

(there are 7 digits). (there must be 6 digits altogether) (there must be 8 digits altogether).

813000 10,740,000

1.074 10 7 =

(2) Writing small numbers in standard form: The power of 10 is negative for small numbers. You get the power by counting to see which decimal place the first non-zero digit occurs in): e.g.1 e.g.2 e.g.3 e.g.4 place). 0.000 000 06 = 6 10 8 0.0045 = 4.5 10 3
2 5.09 10 = 0.0509

(the first non-zero digit is in the 8th decimal place) (the first non-zero digit occurs in the 3rd decimal place) (the first non-zero digit will be the 2nd decimal

th 7.135 10 5 = 0.00007135 (the first non-zero digit will be the 5 decimal place)

Examination Style Question 1 The Earths volume is about 1,080,000,000,000 km3. Write this number in standard form.

Examination Style Question 2 The approximate area of the Australian desert is 1.47 10 6 square miles. Write this number in ordinary form.

Examination Style Question 3 The weight of a bee hummingbird is 0.0016 kg. Write this number in standard form.

Dr Duncombe

February 2004

Calculations involving numbers in standard form using a calculator

Worked examination question: The area of the Earth covered by the sea is 362,000,000 km2. (a) Write 362,000,000 in standard form. The surface area A km2 of the Earth may be found using the formula
A = 4r 2

where r km is the radius of the Earth, r = 6.38 10 3 . (b) Calculate the surface area of the Earth. Give your answer in standard form correct to 3 significant figures. (c) Calculate the percentage of the Earths surface that is covered by the sea. Give your answer correct to 2 significant figures. Solution: (a) 362,000,000 = 3.62 10 8 (b)
A = 4 2 = 4 (6.38 3 ) 2 r 10

Use the x2 key

Use pi button The answer is

Use the EXP key 511506575 = 512000000 (to 3 s.f.) = 5.12 10 8

(c)

The percentage is

Examination Question: The time taken for light to reach Earth from the edge of the known universe is 14,000,000,000 years. a) Write 14,000,000,000 in standard form. Light travels at the speed of 9.46 10 12 km/year. b) Calculate the distance, in kilometres, from the edge of the known universe to Earth. Give your answer in standard form. (Remember that Distance = Speed Time)

Dr Duncombe

February 2004

Examination Question: The mass of a neutron is 1.675 10 24 grams. Calculate the total mass of 1500 neutrons. Give your answer in standard form.

Calculations involving numbers in standard form without a calculator

(b) y x giving your answers in

Solution: First write both x and y as ordinary numbers: x = 400000 (as x must have 5 + 1 = 6 digits altogether) y = 8200000 (as y has 6 + 1 = 7 digits altogether). So x + y = 400000 + 8200000 = 8600000 = 8.6 10 6 Likewise y x = 8200000 4000000 = 7800000 = 7.8 10 6 8200000 +400000 8600000 8200000 400000 7800000

Examination Question: Work out 4 10 8 4 10 6 . Give your answer in standard form

Examination Style Question Work out 4.57 10 4 6.3 10 5 . Give your answer as an ordinary number.

Problems involving multiplication and division: Dr Duncombe February 2004 3

To multiply and divide numbers in standard form without a calculator, there is no need to change them to ordinary numbers first. Example If x = 4 10 5 , y = 8 10 6 and z = 5 10 2 work out (a) x y your answers in standard form Solution (a) x y = 4 10 5 8 10 6 =
( 4 8) (10 5 10 6 )

(b) y z (c) x z giving

= 32 10 11

(i.e. reorder so that you multiply together the numbers and the powers of 10) (remember you add the powers together when you multiply indices)

But this is not yet in standard form as 32 does not lie between 1 and 10. We write 32 in standard form as 3.2 0 1 , so that 1 x y = 3.2 10 1 10 11 = 3.2 10 12 (b) y z =
8 10 6 5 10 2

8 10 6 5 10 2

(reorder so that you divide the numbers and the powers of 10) (remember that you subtract the powers when you divide indices and 6 - -2 = 8)

= 1.6 0 8 1 This number is in standard form. (c) x z =

4 10 5 = 0.8 10 7 5 10 2

This number is not yet in standard form as 0.8 is not between 1 and 10. So we write 0.8 in standard form as 8 10 1 . So x z = ( 8 10 1 ) 10 7 = 8 10 6 (adding the powers of 10 together).

Examination Question A = 3 10 4 B = 5 10 2 (a) Calculate A B. Give your answer in standard form. (b) Calculate A B. Give your answer in standard form.

Examination Style Question Carry out these calculations without a calculator, giving your answers in standard form. Dr Duncombe February 2004 4

(a) (5 10 8 ) (6 10 7 )

(b) (3 10 8 ) (6 10 11 )

Examination Question (Non-calculator paper)

(a) Find the value of p q. Give your answer in standard form. (b) Find the value of p + q. Give your answer in standard form.

Examination Question (Non-calculator paper) (a) Write 84,000,000 in standard form. (b) Work out
84000000 4 10 12

. Give your answer in standard form.

Mixed Questions
Calculator paper examination question Dr Duncombe February 2004 5

420000 carrot seeds weight 1 gram. Each carrot seed weighs the same. (a) Write the number 420000 in standard form. (b) Calculate the weight in grams of one carrot seed. Give your answer in standard form correct to 2 significant figures.

Non-calculator paper examination question (a) i) Write the number 5.01 10 4 as an ordinary number. ii) Write the number 0.0009 in standard form. (b) Multiply 4 10 3 by 6 10 5 . Give your answer in standard form.

Dr Duncombe

February 2004