Why is scientific notation helpful?
When a number is written in standard scientific (exponential) notation format, there should be no problem with zeroes. In this format, with one digit before the decimal point and only SF after the decimal point, all digits shown are significant. Example 3: How many SF are in the measurement 0.00023456 m? In scientific notation that is 2.3456×10-4 m. 5 SF. Scientific notation makes clear that all the zeroes to the left are not significant. The first zero is just decorative and could be omitted; the others are place-holders, so you can show that the 2 is the fourth decimal place. The “rule” that covers this case may be stated: zeroes on the left end of a number are not significant — regardless of where the decimal point is. Hopefully, the example, showing how this plays out in scientific notation, makes this rule clearer. Example 4: How many SF are in the measurement 0.00023450 m? In scientific notation that is 2.3450×10-4 m. 5 SF. That final zero is part of the measurement. If it weren
