Standard form

<p class="paragraph-header">Writing and calculating in standard form</p>
<p>A positive number in standard form is \(A\times10^n\), where&nbsp;\(1\le A&lt;10\) and \(n\) is an integer.</p>
<div class="content-block content-block--table"><div class="table-container"><table style="width: 100%;"><thead><tr><th style="text-align: center; --cell-justify: center"><strong>Task</strong></th><th style="text-align: center; --cell-justify: center"><strong>Example</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; --cell-justify: center">A large number</td><td style="text-align: center; --cell-justify: center">\(5600000=5.6\times10^6\)</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center; --cell-justify: center">A small number</td><td style="text-align: center; --cell-justify: center">\(0.000072=7.2\times10^{-5}\)</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center; --cell-justify: center">Normalise the coefficient</td><td style="text-align: center; --cell-justify: center">\(24\times10^3=2.4\times10^4\)</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center; --cell-justify: center">Use a common power before adding</td><td style="text-align: center; --cell-justify: center">\(3\times10^5+4\times10^4=(3+0.4)\times10^5\)</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>
<p>For multiplication and division, calculate the coefficients and use the index laws on the powers of ten. Then check that the coefficient is at least \(1\) and less than \(10\).</p>
<p>Keep unrounded calculator values until the last step. Standard form describes notation; it does not by itself tell you to round. Follow any stated significant-figure or decimal-place instruction.</p>

A positive number in standard form is \(A\times10^n\), where \(1\le A<10\) and \(n\) is an integer.

For multiplication and division, calculate the coefficients and use the index laws on the powers of ten. Then check that the coefficient is at least \(1\) and less than \(10\).

Keep unrounded calculator values until the last step. Standard form describes notation; it does not by itself tell you to round. Follow any stated significant-figure or decimal-place instruction.

Task	Example
A large number	\(5600000=5.6\times10^6\)
A small number	\(0.000072=7.2\times10^{-5}\)
Normalise the coefficient	\(24\times10^3=2.4\times10^4\)
Use a common power before adding	\(3\times10^5+4\times10^4=(3+0.4)\times10^5\)