Standard form – WJECConverting into standard form and ordinary numbers
Performing calculations with very big or small numbers can be difficult. Such calculations, for example those related to space, can be made easier by converting numbers in and out of standard form.
Converting between ordinary numbers and standard form
To convert a number into standard formA system in which numbers are written as a number greater than 1 and less than 10 multiplied by a power of 10 which may be positive or negative., split the number into two parts - a number multiplied by a power of 10.
So, \(34 \times 10^7\) is not in standard form as the first number is not between 1 and 10. To correct this, divide 34 by 10. To balance out the division of 10, multiply the second part by 10, which gives 108.
\(34 \times 10^7\) and \(3.4 \times 10^8\) are identical but only the second is written in standard form.