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Quizzes > Mathematics

Scientific Notation Quiz: Convert Numbers to and from Powers of Ten

Quick, free scientific notation test with instant results and targeted practice.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Marine PotapinskiUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art quiz illustration on converting numbers to scientific notation on a coral background.

This scientific notation quiz helps you practice converting numbers to and from powers of ten and writing them in standard form. Get instant results on each question, so you can spot mistakes and learn faster. For related practice, review scientific notation and significant figures, take a quick decimal quiz, or try rational number practice.

What is the scientific notation of the number 5,000?
0.5 × 10^4
50 × 10^2
5 × 10^3
500 × 10^1
Scientific notation expresses numbers as a coefficient times ten raised to an exponent. To convert 5,000 you move the decimal three places left, giving 5 × 10^3. Only one digit should appear before the decimal point.
Convert the decimal 0.0032 into scientific notation.
32 × 10^-4
3.2 × 10^3
3.2 × 10^-3
0.32 × 10^-2
You shift the decimal three places right to reach a number between 1 and 10, resulting in 3.2, and apply a negative exponent equal to the shifts: -3.
Which of the following represents 7.89 × 10^2 in standard decimal form?
0.789
7,890
78.9
789
Multiplying by 10^2 moves the decimal point two places to the right, so 7.89 becomes 789.
Which of these is a correctly formatted scientific notation?
91.5 × 10^3
0.915 × 10^5
9.15 × 10^4
915 × 10^2
A proper scientific notation has exactly one non-zero digit before the decimal point. 9.15 × 10^4 meets this rule. The others either have two digits or a leading zero before the decimal.
What is (2 × 10^3) × (3 × 10^2) in scientific notation?
5 × 10^6
6 × 10^1
1.5 × 10^5
6 × 10^5
When multiplying, you multiply coefficients (2×3=6) and add exponents (3+2=5), giving 6 × 10^5.
Calculate (4.5 × 10^5) ÷ (9 × 10^2).
5 × 10^2
0.5 × 10^3
5 × 10^3
50 × 10^1
Divide coefficients (4.5 ÷ 9 = 0.5) and subtract exponents (5 - 2 = 3). Then adjust 0.5 × 10^3 to 5 × 10^2 for correct format.
What is the sum 3 × 10^4 + 4 × 10^4 in scientific notation?
0.7 × 10^5
7 × 10^4
12 × 10^4
1.7 × 10^5
Both terms have the same exponent, so you add coefficients: 3 + 4 = 7, keeping the exponent 4.
Convert 7.89 × 10^-3 to decimal form.
0.789
0.000789
0.0789
0.00789
A negative exponent moves the decimal to the left by three places: .00789.
Compute (6.2 × 10^-2) × (3.0 × 10^4) and express in scientific notation.
186 × 10^1
1.86 × 10^3
0.186 × 10^4
18.6 × 10^2
Multiply coefficients: 6.2×3.0=18.6; add exponents: -2+4=2 ? 18.6×10^2. Then convert to 1.86×10^3 for proper form.
Divide (5.0 × 10^-6) by (2.5 × 10^3) and express in scientific notation.
2.0 × 10^-9
20 × 10^-10
0.2 × 10^-8
2.0 × 10^-3
Divide coefficients: 5.0 ÷ 2.5 = 2.0; subtract exponents: -6 ? 3 = -9, giving 2.0 × 10^-9.
Add 5.5 × 10^7 and 2.25 × 10^6, then express the sum in scientific notation.
7.75 × 10^7
7.75 × 10^6
5.725 × 10^7
5.225 × 10^7
Convert 2.25×10^6 to 0.225×10^7; add to 5.5 gives 5.725×10^7.
Express the gravitational constant 6.674 × 10^-11 in standard decimal notation.
0.0000000006674
0.00000000066674
0.00000000006674
0.000000000006674
Move the decimal 11 places to the left, filling with zeros: 0.00000000006674.
Evaluate (2.5 × 10^8)² and express the result in scientific notation.
6.25 × 10^8
6.25 × 10^14
25 × 10^16
6.25 × 10^16
Squaring the coefficient: 2.5²=6.25; multiplying exponents: 8×2=16; so the result is 6.25×10^16.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the Fundamentals of Scientific Notation -

    Grasp how scientific notation expresses numbers as a coefficient between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of ten, laying the groundwork for accurate conversions.

  2. Convert Numbers to Scientific Notation -

    Apply systematic methods to rewrite large and small numbers into scientific notation form, reinforcing your skills through practice scientific notation exercises.

  3. Convert Scientific Notation Back to Standard Form -

    Translate values from scientific notation into their original decimal representation, ensuring a complete understanding of both directions of conversion.

  4. Solve Advanced Scientific Notation Exercises -

    Tackle more challenging problems involving very large or very small quantities to deepen your mastery of the concept.

  5. Identify and Correct Common Conversion Errors -

    Recognize typical pitfalls when converting numbers and employ effective strategies to avoid or rectify mistakes.

  6. Enhance Accuracy and Speed with Instant Feedback -

    Use the real-time results from the scientific notation quiz to refine your approach and complete conversions more quickly and accurately.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Mastering the Format -

    Recognize that scientific notation expresses numbers as a mantissa (1 ≤ M < 10) times 10 raised to an integer exponent. For example, 4.56 × 10³ clearly indicates 4560, making it easier to compare large or small values. A handy mnemonic is "Make it M × 10❿" to remember the structure.

  2. Converting Large Numbers -

    When converting numbers greater than 10 to scientific notation, move the decimal left until the mantissa lies between 1 and 10; the exponent equals the number of moves. For instance, 12,300 becomes 1.23 × 10❴, reinforcing your skills in scientific notation exercises. Practice this conversion step-by-step in your scientific notation quiz for accuracy.

  3. Converting Small Numbers -

    To convert numbers less than 1, shift the decimal right until the mantissa is between 1 and 10, assigning a negative exponent for each move. E.g., 0.00045 is written as 4.5 × 10❻❴, helping you convert numbers to scientific notation with confidence. Try out multiple examples in your practice scientific notation problems to internalize the concept.

  4. Performing Multiplication and Division -

    Multiply scientific notation expressions by multiplying the mantissas and adding the exponents (e.g., (2 × 10³) × (3 × 10²) = 6 × 10❵). For division, divide the mantissas and subtract exponents, such as (6 × 10❵) ÷ (2 × 10²) = 3 × 10³. These rules simplify complex scientific notation problems during your quiz sessions and real-world calculations.

  5. Real-World Applications -

    Scientific notation is essential in fields like astronomy and microbiology, where values span vast scales - distances to stars (≈1.496 × 10❸ km to the Sun) and sizes of bacteria (≈1 × 10❻❶ m). Recognizing such applications boosts understanding and makes scientific notation more engaging. Use these contexts to challenge yourself in the free scientific notation quiz and solidify your comprehension.

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