Scientific Notation
Writing numbers in scientific notation and computing with them (×, ÷, +, −).
This page is a free outline of what the Scientific Notation lesson covers — it is not the lesson itself. The interactive lesson, practice, quizzes, and AI Tutor are inside the app.
This lesson covers
- Comparing and Ordering Numbers In scientific notation, compare the powers of ten first — the bigger the exponent, the bigger the number — and only compare the coefficients when the exponents match.
- Scientific Notation – Adding and Subtracting To add or subtract, first make the exponents match — rewrite the smaller-exponent number — then add or subtract the coefficients and keep the power of ten.
- Scientific Notation – Multiplying and Dividing To multiply, multiply the coefficients and add the exponents; to divide, divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents. If the coefficient lands outside 1–10, shift the decimal and adjust the exponent.
- Scientific Notation – Standard Form Standard form is the everyday way of writing a number, like 45,000. To get there from 4.5 × 10⁴, shift the decimal the number of places the exponent says — right for a positive exponent, left for a negative one.
- Scientific Notation – Writing
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Inside the app, Scientific Notation comes with:
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24/7 AI Tutor — Ask anything and get a step-by-step explanation when you’re stuck — it teaches the concept, not just the answer. Every answer verified by three independent AIs.
- Practice sets — Open-book practice questions at your level, easiest-first — as many as you want, never scored.
- Quizzes — Scored quizzes on the whole lesson, so you know when you’re ready to move on.
- Skills Check — A concept-by-concept map of what you’ve mastered and what to focus on next.
- Worked examples — Tap the Brain Button on any example for alternative step-by-step explanations.
- Glossary — Plain-English definitions of every key term in the lesson.
- Formula sheet — The GED® & HiSET® formula sheets, on screen while you practice.
- Practice calculator — An on-screen calculator to build your calculator skills before test day.
- Math-fact flashcards — Quick drills for addition, multiplication, perfect squares, and square roots.
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