© 1999 T
EXAS
I
NSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
TI
-
34
Û
: A Guide for Teachers
6
Star Voyage—Scientific Notation
Overview
Students investigate scientific notation by changing
numbers into scientific notation, and then using
them in calculations.
Math Concepts
• scientific
notation
• addition
• division
Materials
• TI
-
34
Û
• pencil
• student activity
(page 8)
Introduction
Set up the activity by telling your students:
The standard form for scientific notation is
a
Q
10
n
,
where a is greater than or equal to 1 and less than
10, and n is an integer.
1.
Have students practice writing the following
numbers in scientific notation using pencil and
paper.
a.
93 000 000
9.3
Q
10
7
b. 384 000 000 000
3.84
Q
10
11
c.
0.00000000000234
2.34
Q
10
-12
d. 0.0000000157
1.57
Q
10
-8
2.
Have students change the following numbers into
scientific notation using the TI
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34
Ö
.
a.
12 000 000 000 000
1.2
Q
10
13
b. 974 000 000 000
9.74
Q
10
11
c.
0.0000000000034
3.4
Q
10
-12
d. 0.00000000004
4
Q
10
-11
3.
Have students change the following numbers into
floating decimal (standard notation).
a.
5.8
Q
10
7
58 000 000
b. 7.32
Q
10
5
732 000
c.
6.2
Q
10
-6
0.0000062
d. 3
Q
10
-8
0.00000003
1. Enter the first number.
¸
¸
0000000000
2. Press
<
to display the
number in scientific
notation.
1. 2
x10
13
³
1. Enter 5.8 and press
C
.
5.8
¯
2. Enter 7 and press
<
.
5.8
¯
7
58000000.
Note: To enter a negative
number, press
M
and then
enter the number.
