Scientific E-notation

Often in the problems for this course you will be asked to provide numerical answers. For large or small numbers you should use scientific E-notation. In this notation, a number like $6.023\times 10^{23}$ is represented as 6.023E23. The number after the E is the exponent. Most programming languages use E-notation.

Small numbers like $1.6022\times 10^{-19}=$ 1.6022E-19 have a minus sign after the E. Logically you should be able to input large numbers with a + sign after the E, $2.998\times 10^{8}=$ 2.998E+8. Even though the server often prints a + sign after the E, it does not accept this as input. Leave the + sign out: $2.998\times 10^{8}=$ 2.998E8.

Try the question below to test your understanding of E-notation.