Chapter 1: Problem 37
Write the number in scientific notation. $$ -0.0087 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The number \(-0.0087\) in scientific notation is \(-8.7 \times 10^{-3}\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Decimal Part
First, locate the first nonzero digit in the number \(-0.0087\). The first nonzero digit is 8.
02
Position the Decimal Point
Move the decimal point to the right of the first nonzero digit. In \(-0.0087\), moving the decimal point after the 8 gives you \(-8.7\). You moved the decimal point 3 places to the right.
03
Determine the Exponent
Since the decimal point was moved 3 places to the right, you will use an exponent of \(-3\). In scientific notation, this movement is represented as a power of 10. So, you have \(-8.7 \times 10^{-3}\).
04
Write in Scientific Notation
Combine the results from the previous steps. The number \(-0.0087\) in scientific notation is \(-8.7 \times 10^{-3}\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Decimal Numbers
Decimal numbers are a way of expressing fractions in a more readable form, using a dot to separate the whole numbers from the fractional parts. They are called 'decimal' because they are based on the power of ten. For example, the number 0.5 is a decimal number, which represents the fraction \( \frac{1}{2} \).
Decimal numbers allow for more accurate and simplified calculations in our day-to-day mathematical interactions. Here are some features of decimal numbers:
Decimal numbers allow for more accurate and simplified calculations in our day-to-day mathematical interactions. Here are some features of decimal numbers:
- The position of each number after the decimal point represents a power of 10 (tenths, hundredths, thousandths, etc.).
- They are often used to denote small or precise values, making them useful in scientific contexts.
- In cases like \(-0.0087\), the number becomes challenging to interpret at a glance, making it a perfect candidate for scientific notation.
Powers of 10
Powers of 10 play a crucial role when working with scientific notation. When we talk about powers of 10, we're talking about expressions like \( 10^2 \), \( 10^3 \), or \( 10^{-3} \). These tell us how many times to multiply or divide the number 10.
Here's how powers of 10 work in a practical sense:
Here's how powers of 10 work in a practical sense:
- Positive exponents, like \( 10^3 \), mean to multiply 10 by itself for the number of times indicated (i.e., \( 10 imes 10 imes 10 = 1000 \)).
- Negative exponents, such as \( 10^{-3} \), mean to divide 1 by 10 raised to that power (i.e., \( \frac{1}{10^3} = 0.001 \)).
- Moving the decimal point to the right in a number involves using negative exponents because you're dividing by a power of ten, whereas moving to the left requires a positive exponent.
Exponents
Exponents are a mathematical way of expressing repeated multiplication. The concept of exponents is fundamental in scientific notation, where you see them utilized as powers of ten. When you write a number as \( 8.7 \times 10^{-3} \), the exponent \(-3\) shows the power of 10 the number is being divided by.
Here are some important facts about exponents:
Here are some important facts about exponents:
- An exponent tells you how many times to multiply a base number by itself. For example, \(5^3\) means \(5 \times 5 \times 5\), which equals 125.
- If the exponent is negative, it shows how many times the base should be divided, indicating that the value is less than one.
- Exponents simplify the representation of very small or very large numbers, making calculations faster and reducing possible errors.