8th Grade · Expressions & Equations
Scientific Notation
8.EE.A.3
Definition
A way to write very large or very small numbers as a coefficient between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of ten.
Examples
- Speed of light: 300,000,000 m/s = 3 × 10⁸ m/s.
- A red blood cell: 0.000007 m = 7 × 10⁻⁶ m.
Key rule
Positive exponent means a large number; negative exponent means a small number.
Memory hook
Big or small numbers, written compactly.