How to Add and Subtract in Scientific Notations? (+FREE Worksheet!)" width="512" height="240" />Scientific notation is one of the most common methods in mathematics for displaying very large and very small numbers that make calculations with those numbers easier. This article teaches you how to add and subtract in Scientific Notations using a few simple steps.
How to Add and Subtract in Scientific Notations? (+FREE Worksheet!)" width="512" height="240" />
Scientific notation is one of the most common methods in mathematics for displaying very large and very small numbers that make calculations with those numbers easier. With a scientific notation, each number can be written as a product of two numbers. To add or subtract numbers in scientific notion, we need to have the same power of the base (number \(10\)), and only decimal parts are added or subtracted.
Adding and subtracting numbers in scientific notion:
Write the answer in scientific notation. \(11\times 10^7 -\ 4.4\times 10^7=\)
Solution:
Since two numbers have the same power, factor \(10^7\) out: \( (11 -\ 4.4 ) \times 10^7 = 6.6\times 10^7\)
Write the answer in scientific notation. \(9.7\times 10^4 -\ 33\times 10^3=\)
Solution:
Convert the second number to have the same power of \(10 \): \(33\times 10^3=3.3\times 10^4\).
Now, two numbers have the same power of \(10 \). Subtract: \( 9.7\times 10^4 -\ 3.3\times 10^4 = (9.7 -\ 3.3 ) \times 10^4 = 6.4\times 10^4\)
Write the answer in scientific notation. \(3.5\times 10^6 +\ 4.7\times 10^6=\)
Solution:
Since two numbers have the same power, factor \(10^6\) out: \( (3.5 +\ 4.7 ) \times 10^6 = 8.2\times 10^6\)
Write the answer in scientific notation. \(2.6\times 10^8 +\ 4.4\times 10^7=\)
Solution:
Convert the second number to have the same power of \(10 \): \(4.4\times 10^7=0.44\times 10^8\).
Now, two numbers have the same power of \(10 \). Add: \( 2.6\times 10^8 +\ 0.44\times 10^8 = (2.6 +\ 0.44 ) \times 10^8 = 3.04\times 10^8\)
