Write $2.36 \times 10^{-3}$ as a decimal number (ordinary form).
Answer (2)
To convert 2.36 × 1 0 − 3 to decimal form, multiply 2.36 by 0.001 , which involves moving the decimal point three places to the left. The result is 0.00236 . This method helps us express small numbers in a more understandable format.
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Multiply 2.36 by 1 0 − 3 .
Recognize that 1 0 − 3 is equal to 0.001 .
Multiply 2.36 by 0.001 by moving the decimal point three places to the left.
The result is 0.00236 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given the number 2.36 × 1 0 − 3 in scientific notation and asked to convert it to its ordinary decimal form. This means we need to multiply 2.36 by 1 0 − 3 .
Converting the Exponent Recall that 1 0 − 3 is equivalent to 1 0 3 1 , which equals 1000 1 or 0.001 . Therefore, we need to calculate 2.36 × 0.001 .
Moving the Decimal Point Multiplying a number by 0.001 is the same as moving the decimal point three places to the left. Starting with 2.36 , we move the decimal point three places to the left, adding zeros as needed: 2.36 → 0.236 → 0.0236 → 0.00236 .
Final Answer Thus, 2.36 × 1 0 − 3 = 0.00236 .
Examples
Scientific notation is used in many fields, such as physics and astronomy, to represent very large or very small numbers. For example, the distance to a nearby star might be 4.01 × 1 0 16 meters, and the size of a bacterium might be 2 × 1 0 − 6 meters. Converting these numbers to ordinary decimal form helps us to understand their magnitude in more familiar units.
