- Definition
Scientific notation is a handy way to write really big or really small numbers using a shorter form, like writing 1,000,000 as 1 x 10 to the power of 6.
The distance to the sun, about 93,000,000 miles, is written as 9.3 × 10⁷ in scientific notation.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Scientific notation is like a nickname for a huge or tiny number, making it easier to write and talk about.
Ask your child: How would you write the number of people on Earth in this shorter way?
Common mix-up: Kids may think the exponent just counts the zeros. The exponent actually shows how many places the decimal point moved to get a number between 1 and 10.
Examples
- The number of stars in our galaxy, around 100 billion, is written as 1 × 10¹¹.
- The width of a human hair, about 0.00007 meters, is written as 7 × 10⁻⁵.
scientific notation is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
