Operations with Standard Form (OCR GCSE Maths: Foundation): Revision Note

Operations with standard form

How do I perform calculations with numbers in standard form?

• Your calculator can be used to help you carry out calculations with numbers written in standard form

• Make use of brackets around each number, and use the $\boxed{\times {10}^x}$ button to enter numbers in standard form

  • e.g. $\left(3\times {10}^8\right)\times \left(2\times {10}^{-3}\right)$ 

  • You can instead use the standard multiplication and index buttons

• If the answer produced by your calculator is not in standard form, but the answer requires it:

  • Either rewrite it using the standard process

    • e.g. 3 820 000 = 3.82 × 10⁶

  • Or rewrite $a$  in standard form, then apply the laws of indices

    • e.g.  243 × 10²⁰ = (2.43 × 10²) × 10²⁰ = 2.43 × 10²²