This math skill teaches how to divide two numbers expressed in scientific notation by dividing their coefficients and subtracting the exponents. It also explains how to adjust the result to maintain a proper scientific notation format.
Divide two scientific notation numbers
Test your understanding of divide scientific notation by practicing it! Work through the below exercises to use it in practice.
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Let's divide these 2 scientific notation numbers
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Dividing the base coefficients of 4 and 5 gives us 0.8. Dividing the powers of ten gives us ten to the power of 3
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But 0.8 is not a proper coefficient for a scientific notation number, it is one place too small
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If we increase 0.8 to 8 and decrease our power of ten by one, we have 8 times ten to the power of 2.