This chapter covers the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of numbers in scientific notation.

EO 1.13

Given the data, CONVERT integers into scientific notation and scientific notation into integers.

EO 1.14

APPLY one of the arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to numbers using scientific notation.

Calculator Usage

Scientific Notation key

If pressed after a number is entered on the display, the EE key will convert the number into scientific notation. If a number is to be entered in scientific notation into the calculator, pressing the EE key tells the calculator the next entered numbers are the exponential values.

Scientists, engineers, operators, and technicians use scientific notation when working with very large and very small numbers. The speed of light is 29,900,000,000 centimeters per second; the mass of an electron is 0.000549 atomic mass units. It is easier to express these numbers in a shorter way called scientific notation, thus avoiding the writing of many zeros and transposition errors.