Question

What is the exponential notation for 262,144

Answer 1

since there is always a decimal at the end of every value so :

           = 262144.0 

        you move the decimal backwards if there is no decimal between the value. you place the decimal after the 1st digit, you will also count the digits you have passed : 

         = 2.62144 X 10^5 

you passed 5 values so you put 5 in exponent form.

Answer 2

The decimal is behind the last four naturally (262,144.0), so you have to move it to the left 5 spaces to get the number to a value under 10. The answer would be written like 2.62144 x 10^5 (with 5 being an exponent)

**Remember the exponent is positive if you start out with a whole number and negative if you start of with a decimal