Scientific Notation - Math Problem Example

Scientific Notation Numbers can be infinite. They can be too large or small. In this manner, it would be impractical to write them in such a way that it would take time and may be prone to mistakes. It is in line with this that scientific notation was discovered in order to make life more convenient in dealing with too large or small numbers. Scientific notation can be expressed in the following ways: Suppose we want to express 8,900 in a simple way using scientific notation, its new form would be 8.9 x 103. Thus, in cases where numbers can be too large, such as 8,900,000,000,000,000, scientific notation finds its way to transform the said number into simplified form: 8.9 x 1015. In cases such as numbers that are too small, scientific notation also finds its practical use.

For instance, the scientific notation of 0.89 is 8.9 x 10-1. In the case of too small number like 0.0000000000000089, scientific notation can actually simplify it in the same manner just like with too large numbers and making it simple like 8.9 x 10-15. The practical advantages of scientific notation in our modern society are best described in terms of the various human discoveries. For instance, it is important that small things such as atoms or molecules should be quantified in order to measure their mass or weight.

In the same manner, it would be too complex to write their exact weight or amount considering that they can be too small in number. The perfect way to describe their weights or any quantifiable information about them is to use a scientific notation. For instance, the mass of a hydrogen atom is 0.00000000000000000000000167 kg. By looking at this number, it sounds that hydrogen atom is really small to the extent that it cannot be seen by a naked eye. However, it would be important to give a systematic way of reading this number because it cannot be difficult to read at all.

People will just be given the information how small a hydrogen atom is, but cannot actually read how small really it is. In this case, scientific notation is there to conserve the detailed information about a hydrogen atom and read it in simplest form. Thus, the 0.00000000000000000000000167 kg mass of hydrogen atom would be read as 1.67 x 10-24 kg. The size of bacteria and viruses can be very small. For instance, the length of the bacterium that causes TB (tuberculosis) is 0.000002 meters. This can be very small but it can be difficult to read.

With scientific notation, one can express 0.000002 meters as 2.0 x 10-6 meters. The distance of earth from the sun can be very large number, but it can be read in simple way in scientific notation. The distance of earth from the sun is 93000000 miles, but in scientific notation, it can be read as 9.3 x 107 miles. Applying scientific notation in a national debt would be convenient because they can be written in simplified form, but there can be significant problem in their substance and essence.

There can be substantial information that will be lost when expressing the entire national debt into scientific notation. For example, a national debt of $1,234,567,890 cannot be expressed as $1.2 x 109 because some significant information will be lost. Millions of money will be lost when national debt should be expressed in scientific notation. In the same way, the debtors may substantially benefit or be at the most disadvantageous side. For instance, a debt of $1,283,789,345,000 can be expressed as $1.

3 x 1012 by rounding off. However, this should not be the case in the treatment of the national debt because the debtor will be put at the most disadvantage situation. The national debt should not be expressed in scientific notation because detailed and substantial information about it should be preserved in as much as possible.