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.