GCSE Maths – Number

Standard Form
Worksheet

This worksheet will show you how to work out different types of standard
form questions. Each section contains a worked example, a question with
hints and then questions for you to work through on your own.

This work by PMT Education is licensed under https://bit.ly/pmt-cc

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 Section A

Worked Example

Write 𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖 in standard form

Step 1: Work out the base number. The value 𝐴𝐴 in 𝑨𝑨 × 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝒏𝒏 is the base number.

The base number must be less than 10, but larger than or equal to 1. It is a number that
gives the answer when multiplied by 10𝑛𝑛 for some integer 𝑛𝑛. Here, the base number is 8.2.

Step 2: Work out 𝑛𝑛, the power of 10 which multiplies with the base number to give the original
number.

We now need to work out what we multiply 8.2 by to get 8200. By division:

8200 ÷ 8.2 = 1000

Then, calculate what power of 10 gives 1000. 103 = 1000, so 𝑛𝑛 = 3.

Step 3: Write the answer in standard form.

8200 = 𝟖𝟖. 𝟐𝟐 × 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟑𝟑

Guided Example

Write 𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔 in standard form

Step 1: Work out the base number. The value 𝐴𝐴 in 𝑨𝑨 × 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝒏𝒏 is the base number.

Step 2: Work out 𝑛𝑛, the power of 10 which multiplies with the base number to give the original
number.

Step 3: Write the answer in standard form.

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 Now it’s your turn!
If you get stuck, look back at the worked and guided examples.

1. Write the following numbers in standard form.

a) 3200000

b) 75

c) 10.57

d) 0.014

e) 0.001002

f) 934.001

g) 100

h) 0.5532

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 Section B

Worked Example

What number is 𝟓𝟓. 𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔 × 𝟏𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝟐𝟐 ?

Step 1: Work out what number the second part, 10𝑛𝑛 , is.

1
10−2 = = 0.01
100

Step 2: Multiply the base number by the factor of 10 we have just calculated.

5.67 × 0.01 = 𝟎𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎

Guided Example

What number is 𝟔𝟔. 𝟏𝟏 × 𝟏𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟒𝟒 ?

Step 1: Work out what number the second part, 10𝑛𝑛 , is.

Step 2: Multiply the base number by the factor of 10 we have just calculated.

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 Now it’s your turn!
If you get stuck, look back at the worked and guided examples.

2. Convert these numbers from standard form to ordinary numbers.

a) 4.9 × 103

b) 1.02 × 106

c) 7.5 × 10−3

d) 6.6 × 10−5

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 Section C

Worked Example

Work out (𝟔𝟔. 𝟕𝟕 × 𝟏𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟑 ) + (𝟑𝟑 × 𝟏𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟐 ). Write the final answer in standard form.

Step 1: Convert both parts to ordinary numbers.

103 = 1000
6.7 × 1000 = 𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔

102 = 100
3 × 100 = 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑

Step 2: Perform the operation on the ordinary numbers.

6700 + 300 = 𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕

Step 3: Convert the result into standard form.

The base number will be 7.

7000 = 𝟕𝟕 × 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟑𝟑

Guided Example

Work out (𝟒𝟒. 𝟕𝟕 × 𝟏𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟓𝟓 ) − (𝟕𝟕. 𝟏𝟏 × 𝟏𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟒𝟒 ). Write the final answer in standard form.

Step 1: Convert both parts to ordinary numbers.

Step 2: Perform the operation on the ordinary numbers.

Step 3: Convert the result into standard form.

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 Now it’s your turn!
If you get stuck, look back at the worked and guided examples.

3. Calculate the following problems, writing the final answer in standard form.

a) (1.2 × 103 ) + (5.4 × 102 )

b) (9.6 × 103 ) − (7.5 × 103 )

c) (2.3 × 10−3 ) + (6.6 × 10−3 )

d) (4.5 × 10−1 ) − (3.9 × 10−2 )

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 Section D

Worked Example

Work out (𝟐𝟐 × 𝟏𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟑 ) × (𝟑𝟑 × 𝟏𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟐 ). Write the final answer in standard form.

Step 1: Perform the operation on the base numbers.

2 × 3 = 𝟔𝟔

Step 2: Perform the operation on the index 10𝑛𝑛 parts.

If we are multiplying two of the same number (10 in this case) with powers, we simply add
the powers!

103 × 102 = 103+2 = 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟓𝟓

Step 3: Write the final answer in standard form.

(2 × 103 ) × (3 × 102 ) = 𝟔𝟔 × 𝟏𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟓𝟓

Guided Example

Work out (𝟖𝟖 × 𝟏𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟕 ) ÷ (𝟒𝟒 × 𝟏𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟒𝟒 ). Write the final answer in standard form.

Step 1: Perform the operation on the base numbers.

Step 2: Perform the operation on the index 10𝑛𝑛 parts.

Step 3: Write the final answer in standard form.

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 Now it’s your turn!
If you get stuck, look back at the worked and guided examples.

4. Calculate the following problems, writing the final answer in standard form.

a) (5 × 103 ) × (7 × 104 )

b) (9 × 109 ) ÷ (3 × 106 )

c) (4 × 10−1 ) × (2 × 102 )

d) (7.2 × 106 ) ÷ (3.6 × 10−4 )

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