Exponential Notation

Exponential notation is a method in mathematics that allows the representation of numbers in shorter form and aids in mathematical calculations.  For example, 1,000,000 can be written as 1 x 10⁶.  Avogadro’s number, which is the number of molecules in 18 grams of water, is 602,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 or 6.02 x 10²³.  When multiplying large numbers together using exponential notation, the exponents are added.  For example, 1000 x 1000 = 1,000,000.  Or (1 x 10³) x (1x 10³) = 1 x 10⁶.