Scientific notation: small numbers, step by step
A negative power of ten writes a very small number in scientific notation.
The question
3.6 × 10⁻³
10⁻³=1 ÷ 1000
3.6
0.36
0.036
0.0036
3.6
0.36
0.036
0.0036
3.6 × 10⁻³=0.0036
- The minus sign is on the POWER, not on the number. 10⁻³ means 1 ÷ 1000, so 3.6 × 10⁻³ is a small positive number — never a negative one.
- Dividing by ten moves every digit down one place, which shows up as the point moving one place left. There are 3 of them here, so the point moves 3 places left.
- Following it the whole way: 3.6 → 0.36 → 0.036 → 0.0036. So 3.6 × 10⁻³ = 0.0036.
How it works.
- 01
The minus sign is on the POWER, not on the number. 10⁻³ means 1 ÷ 1000, so 3.6 × 10⁻³ is a small positive number — never a negative one.
- 02
Dividing by ten moves every digit down one place, which shows up as the point moving one place left. There are 3 of them here, so the point moves 3 places left.
- 03
Following it the whole way: 3.6 → 0.36 → 0.036 → 0.0036. So 3.6 × 10⁻³ = 0.0036.