2/10 In Scientific Notation

3 min read Jul 24, 2024
2/10 In Scientific Notation

2/10 in Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is a mathematical notation that represents very large or very small numbers in a more compact and readable form. It is commonly used in scientific and engineering applications to simplify complex calculations. In this article, we will explore how to convert the fraction 2/10 to scientific notation.

What is Scientific Notation?

Before we dive into converting 2/10 to scientific notation, let's briefly review what scientific notation is. Scientific notation is a way of expressing a number as a product of three parts:

  • A coefficient (a number between 1 and 10)
  • A base (usually 10)
  • An exponent (a power of 10)

The general form of scientific notation is:

a × 10^b

where 'a' is the coefficient, 'b' is the exponent, and 10 is the base.

Converting 2/10 to Scientific Notation

To convert the fraction 2/10 to scientific notation, we need to rewrite it as a decimal first. To do this, we can divide the numerator (2) by the denominator (10):

2 ÷ 10 = 0.2

Now, we can write 0.2 in scientific notation. Since the coefficient is 0.2, which is less than 1, we need to raise the base (10) to a negative power. In this case, the exponent is -1.

2/10 in Scientific Notation

The fraction 2/10 in scientific notation is:

2 × 10^(-1)

In this notation, the coefficient is 2, the base is 10, and the exponent is -1.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have successfully converted the fraction 2/10 to scientific notation, which is 2 × 10^(-1). Scientific notation is a powerful tool for simplifying complex calculations and expressing very large or very small numbers in a more compact and readable form.