Q:

# How do you write decimals in standard form?

A:

To write decimals in standard form, move the decimal point to the right until it is at the right of the first nonzero digit. Then, multiply the number by 10 to the power of the negative of the number of spaces the decimal point was moved.

For example, the decimal 0.0000005467 can be expressed in standard form as 5.467 * 10^-7. This is because in order for the decimal to be to the right of the first nonzero digit, it has to be moved seven places to the right. After moving the decimal seven places to the right, the resulting number is 5.467. Then, this number is multiplied by 10^-7, because when moving the decimal to the right, one must multiply by 10 to the power of the negative of the number of places the decimal point moved.

Another simple example is the decimal 0.01. It can be expressed as 1 * 10^-2, because the decimal has to move two places to the right in order to be to the right of the first nonzero digit.

## Similar Questions

• A:

The number two and one tenth as a decimal in standard form is written as 2.1 times 10 to the zeroth power. Raising a number to the zeroth power returns the number one, so the number above is equal to 2.1 times one, or simply 2.1.

Filed Under:
• A:

The leading digit in a decimal is the digit to the immediate left of the decimal point. If the decimal is less than one, the leading digit is the first non-zero digit to the right of a decimal point.

Filed Under:
• A:

One hundred one million, two hundred thirty thousand and four is written as 101,230,004 in standard form. The standard form is the way people usually write numbers. Since the given number is expressed in words, standard form requires conversion to its numeral form.