Chemistry Workbook For Dummies with Online Practice
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In chemistry, you can add and subtract extreme numbers by using exponential notation, and expressing your numbers as coefficients of identical powers of 10. To wrestle your numbers into this form, you may need to use coefficients less than 1 or greater than 10.

Adding with exponential notation

To add two numbers by using exponential notation, you begin by expressing each number as a coefficient and a power of 10. In this example, you add these numbers,

CHEM_0201

by following these steps:

  1. Convert both numbers to the same power of 10.
    CHEM_0202
  2. Add the coefficients.
    CHEM_0203
  3. Join your new coefficient to the shared power of 10.
    CHEM_0204

Subtracting with exponential notation

To subtract numbers in exponential notation, you follow the same steps but subtract the coefficients. Here’s an example:

0.0743 – 0.0022

To perform the subtraction, follow these steps:
  1. Convert both numbers to the same power of 10.
    CHEM_0205
  2. Subtract the coefficients. 7.43 – 0.22 = 7.21
  3. Join your new coefficient to the shared power of 10.
    CHEM_0206
Now try a few practice questions.

Practice questions

  1. Add the following:
    CHEM_0207
  2. Use exponential notation to subtract the following: 9,352 – 431

Answers and Explanations

  1. The correct answer is
    CHEM_0208
    Because the numbers are each already expressed with identical powers of 10 (in this case, 10–6), you can simply add the coefficients: 398 + 147 = 545 Then join the new coefficient with the original power of 10.
  2. The correct answer is
    CHEM_0209
    (or an equivalent expression). First, convert the numbers so each uses the same power of 10:
    CHEM_0210
    Here, you’ve picked 10², but any power is fine as long as the two numbers have the same power. Then subtract the coefficients: 93.52 – 4.31 = 89.21 Finally, join the new coefficient with the shared power of 10.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book authors:

Christopher Hren is a high school chemistry teacher and former track and football coach. Peter J. Mikulecky, PhD, teaches biology and chemistry at Fusion Learning Center and Fusion Academy.

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