How do you write #1,287,000,000# in scientific notation?

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Answer 1 · 2016-05-13T01:48:35

#1,287,000,000=1.287\times10^9#.

To put a number into scientific notation:

Move the decimal point right or left until one nonzero digit is to the left of the moved decimal point. Call the number with the moved decimal point #a#.
Count the number of places you moved the decimal point, call it #n#. If you moved the decimal point to the left, that is a factor of #10^n# versus the original number. If you moved the decimal point to the right, that is a factor of #10^{-n}#.
The original number in scientific notation is #a\times10^n# or #a\times10^{-n}# depending on which way you used the decimal point.

This for #1,287,000,000# we get

#a=1.287#

by moving the decimal point nine places (#n=9#)

to the left (#n# has the positive sign).

Thus #1.287\times10^9#.