Question

How do you convert 1550 into scientific notation.

Answer 1

Hint: We will first understand the concept of the scientific notation and then use methods to convert a given number into scientific notation and then we will try to write the given number into scientific notation. Since, scientific notation consists of mantissa and exponents part so to write a given number into scientific notation we will first find the mantissa and then the exponent part of the given number.

Complete step-by-step solution:
We will first understand the concept of scientific notation. Scientific notation is the way of writing the given a very large or small number. A number can be written in scientific notation when a number between 1 to 10 (also known as mantissa of the number given) is multiplied by the power of 10. The general form of scientific notation is $a\times {{10}^{b}}$, where ‘a’ is a number between 1 to 10, also known as the mantissa of a number and ‘b’ is an integral number.
Now, we have to convert 1550 into scientific notation.
At first, we will find the mantissa of the given number.
We know that mantissa of the scientific notation lies between 1 to 10. So, we can say that mantissa of 1550 is 1.550 as it lies between 1 to 10.
Now, we have to make 1.550 equivalent to 1550. We can do this by multiplying 1.550 with 3 power of 10 as ${{10}^{3}}=1000$ and $1.550\times 1000=1550$
$\begin{align}
  & \Rightarrow 1550=1.550\times 1000 \\
 & \Rightarrow 1550=1.550\times {{10}^{3}} \\
\end{align}$
Hence, the exponent part is ${{10}^{3}}$.
Thus, the scientific notation of 1550 is $1.550\times {{10}^{3}}$.
This is our required solution.

Note: Students are required to note that in scientific notation mantissa always lies between 1 to 10 and its value cannot exceed 10. Also, note that we usually write scientific notation so that we can compare the number easily by just seeing the power of 10.