scientific notation
1 of 1noun/ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk noʊˈteɪʃən/
Forms:scientific notations
1
a method of writing numbers as the product of a coefficient and a power of 10
- When discussing the size of galaxies, astronomers often use scientific notation to represent their vast distances from Earth.
- In financial reports, large numbers representing company revenues or market capitalization are sometimes written in scientific notation for clarity.
- Scientists use scientific notation to express the extremely small sizes of subatomic particles, such as quarks and neutrinos.
- Meteorologists may use scientific notation to express the immense energy released during hurricanes or volcanic eruptions.
- Engineers employ scientific notation when describing the dimensions of nanoscale structures in microelectronics and materials science.