# Math Help - Scientific notation steps

1. ## Scientific notation steps

I am trying to help my daughter with this problem. She has to put the answer in scientific notation. The problem is

36x10 to the 7th power divided by 12 to the -3rd power.

I want to know if I can get step by step instructions for the last part before the answer.

So far she has gotten this: 360,000,000 divided by .012

Can you show me how to complete and solve with answer in scientific notation, I want to walk her through it

2. Originally Posted by jmotherx3
I am trying to help my daughter with this problem. She has to put the answer in scientific notation. The problem is

36x10 to the 7th power divided by 12 to the -3rd power.

I want to know if I can get step by step instructions for the last part before the answer.

So far she has gotten this: 360,000,000 divided by .012

Can you show me how to complete and solve with answer in scientific notation, I want to walk her through it
$\frac {36 \times 10^7}{12 \times 10^{-3}}$

"separate" the 10's from the "not 10's"

$\Rightarrow \frac {36}{12} \cdot \frac {10^7}{10^{-3}}$

simplify

$3 \cdot 10^{7 - (-3)}$ .........since $\frac {x^a}{x^b} = x^{a - b}$

so we have

$3 \times 10^{10}$

this is already in scientific notation, since $0 \le 3 \le 9$