very silly question

Gurpinder wrote:453.122 x 10 = 4531.22

453.122 x 10^3 = 453122

453.122 x 10^-2 = 4.53122 ????????????????

so when we have a negative exponent like this one, do we simply move the decimal to the left based on what the exponent is.

so if the exponent is -2, do we go 2 places to the left or 3???

thanks to all

when exponent is negative you go left. you said -2, thus you go 2 spaces to the left

i.e. 95400 * 10^-3 = 95.4
i.e2. 95400 * 10^-4 = 9.54
i.e.3 95400 * 10^-5 = 0.954

hope it helps
best

shibal wrote:

Gurpinder wrote:453.122 x 10 = 4531.22

453.122 x 10^3 = 453122

453.122 x 10^-2 = 4.53122 ????????????????

so when we have a negative exponent like this one, do we simply move the decimal to the left based on what the exponent is.

so if the exponent is -2, do we go 2 places to the left or 3???

thanks to all

when exponent is negative you go left. you said -2, thus you go 2 spaces to the left

i.e. 95400 * 10^-3 = 95.4
i.e2. 95400 * 10^-4 = 9.54
i.e.3 95400 * 10^-5 = 0.954

hope it helps
best

ok.....so when i do this 4x10^-2 --- why do i get .4 when the book says that its .04 ?????

10^-2 = .1

and .1x4 = .4

what am i doing wrong!!!!

Gurpinder wrote: ok.....so when i do this 4x10^-2 --- why do i get .4 when the book says that its .04 ?????

10^-2 = .1

and .1x4 = .4

what am i doing wrong!!!!

10^-2 =1*10^-2
So now, put the decimal dot(.) 2 spaces before 1.(including 1)
Hence 0.01

4* 10^-2
Hence = 0.04

Hope this helps!!

Gurpinder wrote:453.122 x 10 = 4531.22

453.122 x 10^3 = 453122

453.122 x 10^-2 = 4.53122 ????????????????

so when we have a negative exponent like this one, do we simply move the decimal to the left based on what the exponent is.

so if the exponent is -2, do we go 2 places to the left or 3???

thanks to all

Hi!

A negative exponent is the same as the reciprocal of the positive exponent.

For example, 2^(-4) = 1/(2^4)

So, when you multiply by 10 to a negative exponent, you're really dividing by 10 to the positive exponent.

Using your example:

453.122 x 10^-2 = 453.122 / 10^2 = 453.122 / 100 = 4.53122

As you noted, this simply means that you move the decimal to the left for negative powers of 10 and to the right for positive powers of 10.

Similarly:

4 x 10^-2

= 4 / 10^2

= 4 / 100

= .04