Multiply and Divide using Standard Form

Using standard form is incredibly useful when we need to use either very large or very small numbers.

 

Areas we may use standard form include physics, biology and chemistry - from measuring the distance between planets to the mass of atoms.

 

 

In this activity, we will be multiplying and dividing numbers written in standard form.

 

When multiplying and dividing using standard form, we need to remember our rules of indices.

 

a^m x aⁿ = a^m+n

 

a^m ÷ aⁿ = a^m-n

 

Example 

Work out:

(2 x 10³) x (3 x 10⁴)

= 2 x 3 x 10³ x 10⁴ 

= 6 x 10³⁺⁴

= 6 x 10⁷

 

Example 2

(6 x 10⁵)  ÷  (2 x 10⁴)

= 6 ÷ 2 x 10⁵ ÷ 10⁴ 

= 3 x 10^5-4

= 3 x 10¹ 

 

Think you've got the hang of these? Let's try out the activity.