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Multiplication and Division in Scientific Notation

Author: Sophia
PDF Version

what's covered
In this lesson, you will learn how to multiply or divide numbers in scientific notation. Specifically, this lesson will cover:

Table of Contents

1. Multiplication and Division with Scientific Notation

When converting between standard notation and scientific notation it is important to understand how scientific notation works and what it does. Here our main interest is to be able to multiply and divide numbers in scientific notation using exponent properties. The way we do this is to first do the operation with the front number (multiply or divide) then use exponent properties to simplify the 10’s. Scientific notation is the only time where it will be allowed to have negative exponents in our final solution. The negative exponent simply informs us that we are dealing with small numbers.

Here is an example of multiplying two numbers in scientific notation. Pay particular attention to which numbers we multiply first, and how we deal with the powers of 10.

EXAMPLE

open parentheses 2.1 space cross times space 10 to the power of short dash 7 end exponent close parentheses open parentheses 3.7 space cross times space 10 to the power of 5 close parentheses Deal with numbers and 10's separately
open parentheses 2.1 close parentheses open parentheses 3.7 close parentheses equals 7.77 Multiply numbers
10 to the power of short dash 7 end exponent 10 to the power of 5 equals 10 to the power of short dash 2 end exponent Use product rule on 10's and add exponents
7.77 space cross times space 10 to the power of short dash 2 end exponent Our Solution

A similar process is used to divide in scientific notation. First, we divide the decimal part of the number, and then apply a property of exponents to easily divide the powers of 10.

EXAMPLE

fraction numerator 4.96 space cross times space 10 to the power of 4 over denominator 3.1 space cross times space 10 to the power of short dash 3 end exponent end fraction Deal with numbers and 10's separately
fraction numerator 4.96 over denominator 3.1 end fraction equals 1.6 Divide numbers
10 to the power of 4 over 10 to the power of short dash 3 end exponent equals 10 to the power of 7 Use quotient rule to subtract exponents, be careful with negatives!
4 minus open parentheses short dash 3 close parentheses space equals space 4 plus 3 space equals 7
1.6 space cross times space 10 to the power of 7 Our Solution

Notice that the properties of exponents can always be used in scientific notation. This is because the exponent properties apply when the bases are the same, and the base is always 10 in scientific notation.

brainstorm
Do you think we can use any properties of exponents as shortcuts when we raise a number in scientific notation to an exponent power?

EXAMPLE

open parentheses 1.8 space cross times space 10 to the power of short dash 4 end exponent close parentheses cubed Use power rule to deal with numbers and 10's separately
1.8 cubed equals 5.832 Evaluate open parentheses 1.8 close parentheses cubed
open parentheses 10 to the power of short dash 4 end exponent close parentheses cubed space equals space 10 to the power of short dash 12 end exponent Multiply exponents
5.832 space cross times space 10 to the power of short dash 12 end exponent Our Solution

big idea
When multiplying and dividing in scientific notation, deal with the non-exponential and exponential (containing the power of 10) separately. Multiply or divide the decimal number part first, then multiply or divide the part with exponents, applying the property of exponents to either add or subtract the exponents.

2. Simplifying Solution

Often when we multiply or divide in scientific notation, the end result is not in scientific notation. We will then have to convert the front number into scientific notation and then combine the 10’s using the product property of exponents and adding the exponents.

EXAMPLE

open parentheses 4.7 cross times 10 to the power of short dash 3 end exponent close parentheses open parentheses 6.1 cross times 10 to the power of 9 close parentheses Deal with numbers and 10's separately
open parentheses 4.7 close parentheses open parentheses 6.1 close parentheses equals 28.67 Multiply numbers
2.867 cross times 10 to the power of 1 Convert this number into scientific notation
10 to the power of 1 10 to the power of short dash 3 end exponent 10 to the power of 9 equals 10 to the power of 7 Use product rule, add exponents, using 10 to the power of 1 from conversion
2.867 space cross times space 10 to the power of 7 Our Solution

EXAMPLE

fraction numerator 2.014 space cross times space 10 to the power of short dash 3 end exponent over denominator 3.8 space cross times space 10 to the power of short dash 7 end exponent end fraction Deal with numbers and 10's separately
fraction numerator 2.014 over denominator 3.8 end fraction equals 0.53 Divide numbers
0.53 equals 5.3 space cross times space 10 to the power of short dash 1 end exponent Change this number to scientific notation
fraction numerator 10 to the power of short dash 1 end exponent 10 to the power of short dash 3 end exponent over denominator 10 to the power of short dash 7 end exponent end fraction equals 10 cubed Use product and quotient rule, using 10 to the power of short dash 1 end exponent from the conversion. Be careful with signs:
open parentheses short dash 1 close parentheses plus open parentheses short dash 3 close parentheses minus open parentheses short dash 7 close parentheses equals open parentheses short dash 4 close parentheses minus open parentheses short dash 7 close parentheses equals open parentheses short dash 4 close parentheses plus 7 equals 3
5.3 space cross times space 10 cubed Our Solution

summary
For multiplication and division in scientific notation, it is important to remember the following rules. When you're multiplying numbers that are written in scientific notation, first multiply your decimal numbers. Then, using the product of powers property, you're going to add your exponents. When you're dividing numbers in scientific notation, first divide the decimal numbers. Then use the quotient of powers property to subtract your exponents. When you're squaring a number in scientific notation, first square the decimal number. Then use the power of powers property to multiply your exponents.

Source: ADAPTED FROM "BEGINNING AND INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA" BY TYLER WALLACE, AN OPEN SOURCE TEXTBOOK AVAILABLE AT www.wallace.ccfaculty.org/book/book.html. License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

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