one to remove the sig zeros
two remove ambiguity as to the sig fig
three allow the ins of the numbers precision
2007-09-16 17:38:49 · 6 answers · asked by hitlovefree 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
well, it's to simplify it and make it easier to use (usually with numbers with a lot of zeros)
6.22 x 10^3 might actually be a little more complicated than 6220
but
6.22 x 10^23 is a lot simpler than 622,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
2007-09-16 17:46:07 · answer #1 · answered by Fey Wind 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Science often deals with very large numbers (or very small numbers) that are much more easily manipulated in scientific notation. It's that simple.
2007-09-16 17:42:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Three is a good answer, but two is very important. If you write 3.0 E10 as 30000000000, you imply that you know the number to an accuracy (note that word, please) of one digit in the least place, when in scientific notation you are claiming only two digit accuracy. If you claim three digit accuracy, write 3.00 E10.
2007-09-16 19:57:43 · answer #3 · answered by ZORCH 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of slide rules and the ease of writing large and small numbers.
2007-09-16 17:48:52 · answer #4 · answered by gcnp58 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Four: because it is easier to handle large/small numbers; especially in combination.
2007-09-16 18:18:21 · answer #5 · answered by Caninelegion 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it makes you look very smart
2007-09-16 17:42:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋