How do you convert -0.000134 into scientific notation?

1 Answer
Jul 12, 2015

The number in standard scientific notation is #-1.34 × 10^(-4)#.

Explanation:

In scientific notation, numbers are written in the form #a × 10^b#, where #a# is the "pre-exponential" part and #10^b# is the exponential part.

Your number in decimal form is #-0.000134#.

When we convert to scientific notation, the negative sign stays the same.

We move the decimal point so there is only one non-zero digit in front of the decimal point.

So, #-0.000134# becomes #-00001.34#.

The "leading zeroes" are not significant and can be dropped, so the pre-exponential term is #-1.34#.

We moved the decimal place four places so the exponent is #4#.

We moved the decimal place to the right, so the exponent is negative.

The exponential part is therefore #10^-4#.

So #-0.000134 = -1.34 × 10^-4#.