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# How do you write decimals in standard form?

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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.

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Credit: Robert Couse-Baker CC-BY 2.0

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.

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## Related Questions

• A:

To read a decimal, say the number to the left of the decimal point as a whole number. Use the word "and" to indicate the decimal point. Read the number to the right of the decimal point as a whole number, ending with the place value of the last digit.

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• A:

Long division with decimals is functionally the same as long division without decimals, but you have to move the decimal point of the divisor and dividend so you have a whole number.

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• 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.