Scientific notation, step by step
Scientific notation writes any number as something between 1 and 10 times a power of ten.
The question
3.8 × 10²
10²=100
3.8
38
380
3.8
38
380
3.8 × 10²=380
- 10² is 2 tens multiplied together, which is 100. So this asks for 3.8 lots of 100.
- Multiplying by ten moves every digit up one place, which shows up as the point moving one place right. There are 2 of them here, so the point moves 2 places right.
- Following it the whole way: 3.8 → 38 → 380. So 3.8 × 10² = 380.
How it works.
- 01
10² is 2 tens multiplied together, which is 100. So this asks for 3.8 lots of 100.
- 02
Multiplying by ten moves every digit up one place, which shows up as the point moving one place right. There are 2 of them here, so the point moves 2 places right.
- 03
Following it the whole way: 3.8 → 38 → 380. So 3.8 × 10² = 380.