Adding and Subtracting in Scientific Notation | Mathcation

Adding and Subtracting in Scientific Notation

When Adding and Subtracting in Scientific Notation the exponents of the numbers you are adding or subtracting must be equal. If they are already equal, then you can just add the coefficients together. If the exponents are not equal, then you must make them equal by moving one of the decimals. The easiest way to make the decimals equal is to make the smaller exponent equal to the larger exponent by moving the decimal to the left. You add one to the exponent for each space that you move the decimal point to the left. Once the exponents are equal then you can add or subtract the coefficients. The final step for Adding and Subtracting in Scientific Notation is to ensure that the coefficient is between 1 and 10. If it is not, you must move the decimal point so that it is.