Chapter 9

1.1

STANDARD FORM

Significant Figures
Important concepts
Round off the following numbers correct to the number of significant figures indicated within
the brackets.
64 349

(3)

6 4 3 4 9

707.2

7 0 7. 2

4<5 digit to be rounded 3,

is unchanged. Before the
decimal point each digit is
replaced by 0

64 300 ( 3 significant figures )

0.064 34

0. 0 6 4 3 4

(2)

7>5 , 1 is added to the

digit to be rounded 0,
0+1=1 .After decimal
point, digit 2 is dropped.

710 ( 2 significant figures )

(3)

7.072

(2)

7.0 7 2

4<5 digit to be rounded 3,

is unchanged. After the
decimal point digit 4 is
dropped.

0.0643 ( 3 significant figures )

7>5 , 1 is added to the

digit 0, 0+1=1 After the
decimal point, digits 7 and
2 are dropped.

7.1 ( 2 significant figures )

Examples & Exercises

Round off the following numbers correct to the given significant figures.

Standard Form

135

Number

1 significant figure

2 significant figures

3 significant figures

64349

60000

64000

64300

80492

6739

7000

6700

6740

3065

708.3

700

710

708

506.6

96.70

100

97

96.7

20.63
6

6.0

5.87

0.5

0.50

0.498

0.05

0.046

0.0457

0.003

0.0029

0.00290

0.00006

0.000058

0.0000582

0.00008

0.000084

0.0000900

5.866

9
10

3.465

11

0.4979

12

0.2997

13

0.04567

14

0.03296

15

0.002902

16

0.0007998

17

0.00005823

18

0.00006435

19

0.00008395

20

0.00004097

1.2 Standard Form

1.2 a.

Expressing Numbers in Standard Form

Important Concept
In standard form a number is written as

A 10 n

1 A 10 and n is an integer
3
2
example: 2.938 10 , 1.688 10
where

3 Steps to express a positive number in standard form:

STEP 1 : Form the number A, where 1 A < 10.. Place a decimal number point after the first non-zero
digit
STEP 2 : Obtain the value of the index n by counting the number of decimal places from the new
position to its original position.

Standard Form

136

if the decimal point is moved to the left, n is a positive integer.

if the decimal point is moved to the right, n is a negative integer.
n
STEP 3 : Write the number in the form A 10
Example
3
1. 1 6 8 8 = 1. 6 8 8 10

Step 1 : Form the number, A.

Move the decimal point 3 steps to the left. Hence, A = 1.688
Step 2 : Obtain the value of n. The decimal point is moved 3 steps to the left, hence n is positive and
n = 3.
n
3
Step 3 : Write the number in the form A 10 , hence 1.688 10
5

2. 0.0 0 0 0 5 4 6 = 5.46 10
Step 1 : Form the number, A.
Move the decimal point 5 steps to the right. Hence, A = 5.46
Step 2 : Obtain the value of n. The decimal point is moved 5 steps to the right, hence n is negative and
n = 5.
n
5
Step 3 : Write the number in the form A 10 , hence 5.46 10

EXERCISE:
1. Express each of the following in standard form
a) 29320

a) 30 657 =

b) 19 42 1.942 10

2
c) 789 7.89 10

c) 210 =

1
d) 32 .9 3.29 10

d) 76.1=

0
e) 5.32 5.32 10

e) 6.78

1
f) 0.672 6.72 10

c) 0.578

g) 0.0996

3
h) 0.00665 6.66 10

h) 0.00893

i) 0.000321

5
j) 0.000085 8.5 10

j) 0.0000992

2.932 10

g) 0.0143 1.43 10

4
i) 0.00078 7.8 10

Standard Form

137

b) 3458 =

2. Convert each of the following to a single number.

4
a) 6.851 10 68510

4
a) 5.874 10

3
b) 3.221 10 3221

3
b) 1.902 10

2
c) 7.685 10 768 .5

2
c) 1.061 10

1
d) 8.853 10 88.53

1
d) 4.801 10

0
e) 6.001 10 6.001

0
e) 7.068 10

1
f) 5.861 10 0.5861

1
f) 2.218 10

2
g) 6.008 10 0.06008

2
g) 9.655 10

3
h) 2.45 10 0.00245

3
h) 6.319 10

4
i) 3.76 10 0.000376

4
i) 5.63 10

j) 6.73 10

1.2b

Operations involving Standard Form

1.21

Addition and Subtraction

The smaller index is adjusted to equal the bigger index before

addition or subtraction is performed.

Examples & Exercises

Evaluate each of the following, giving answer in standard form

Standard Form

138

0.0000673

j) 9.42 10

a)

4.5 10 3 8.1 10 4

a)

2.3 10 3 7.1 10 4

b)

7.2 10 4 3.7 10 3

c)

9.5 10 3 7.3 10 2

d)

7.2 10 3 9.2 10 4

0.45 10 31 8.1 10 4
0.45 10 4 8.1 10 4
(0.45 8.1) 10 4
8.55 10 4

b)

2.2 10 4 7.4 10 3
0.22 10 4 1 7.4 10 3
0.22 10 3 7.4 10 3
(0.22 7.4) 10 3
7.62 10 3

c)

7.5 10 3 8.1 10 2
7.5 10 3 0.81 10 21
(7.5 0.81) 10 3
6.691 10 3

d)

9.4 10 3 7.3 10 4
9.4 10 3 0.73 10 41
9.4 10 3 0.73 10 3
(9.4 0.73) 10 3
8.67 10 3

1.22

Multiplication and Division

m
n
a) ( A 10 ) ( B 10 )

( A B ) 10 m n

b)

( A 10 m ) ( B 10 n )
A
10 m n
B

Examples & Exercises

Evaluate each of the following , giving your answer in standard form

Standard Form

139

6
2
a) 4 10 3.6 10
( 4 3.6) 10 6 2

6
2
a) 5 10 4.3 10

14.4 10 8
1.44 10 9

4
2
b) 5.7 10 2 10
(5.7 2) 10 4 2

4
2
b) 3.5 10 4 10

11.4 10 2
1.14 10 1

2
4
c) 6.2 10 3 10
(6.2 3) 10 2 4

2
4
c) 7.1 10 4 10

18.6 10 6
1.86 10 5

8.7 10 5
2
d) 2 10
8.7

10 5 2
2
4.35 10 3

1.2 10 8
5
d) 2 10

7.2 10 2
5
e) 4 10
7.2

10 25
4
1.8 10 3

8.7 10 7
5
e) 3 10

6.3 10 6
5
f) 9 10
6.3

10 6 5
9
0.7 10 1
7 10 2

5.6 10 6
5
f) 8 10

Standard Form

140

3 10 6
600
g)
3 10 6

6 10 2
3
10 6 2
6
0.5 10 8
5 10 9

6 10 3
5000
g)

EXAMINATION FORMAT QUESTIONS

1. Round off 6 284 correct to 2
significant figures.
A 6 200
B 6 280

6. 3.84 10 4
A 0.0000384
B 0.000384

C 6 290
D 6 300

7. 1.02 10 5

2. Round off 10726 correct to 2

significant figures.
A 1100
B 10000

A 102
B 1020

C 10700
D 10

3. Round off 2.673 correct to 3

significant figures.
A 2.6
B 2.67

A 0.0000384
B 0.000384

C 2.7
D 2.70

1
A 7.2 10
2
B 7.2 10

5. Round off 0.0368 correct to two significant

B. 0.036

D. 0.037

Standard Form

7.2 10 4

7.2 10 5

10. Express 558000 in standard form.

figures.
C 0.04

C 3840
D 384000

9. Express 0.000072 in standard form.

C 0.003512
D 0.0003521

A. 0.03

C 10200
D 102000

8. 3.84 10 4

4. Round off 0.00035118 correct to 3

significant figures.
A 0.000351
B 0.0003511

C 3840
D 384000

3
A 5.58 10
4
B 5.58 10

141

5.58 10 5

5.58 10 6

3.04 10 14

0.004
18.

5
11. 2.6 10 66000
5
A 3.26 10
9
B 3.26 10

13
A 7.60 10
14
B 7.60 10

5
C 6.86 10
9
D 6.86 10

7840

12.

4.8 10 12 2.7 10 13

12
A 3.18 10
13
B 3.18 10

19.

7.5 10 12

13
D 7.5 10

15

5
C 1.6 10
6
D 1.6 10

2000

3
20. 16 4 10

5
C 6.03 10
6
D 6.03 10

1
A 5.00 10
1
B 5.00 10

4
C 3.13 10
4
D 3.13 10

21. RM 1.36 millions is to be shared by four

6
14. 9.4 10 7700000
5
A 1.7 10
6
B 1.7 10

2 2

5
A 1.12 10
6
B 1.12 10

5
6
13. 6.35 10 3.2 10
5
A 3.12 10
6
B 3.12 10

7 10

15
C 7.60 10
16
D 7.60 10

people. Express the answer in standard

form.

5
C 8.63 10
6
D 8.63 10

A. 3.4 x 10-5

C. 340 x 10

B. 3.4 x 104

D. 3.40 x 105

4.9 5 10 6

7
A 2.45 10
8
B 2.45 10

22.

9
C 2.45 10
10
D 2.45 10

3.0 10 2

12
10
16. 5.4 10 4 10
1
A 2.16 10
2
B 2.16 10

3
C 2.16 10
4
D 2.16 10

4 10 3 cm

Diagram 1
In the Diagram 1, PQRS is a rectangle.
2
The area, in cm , of the rectangle is

0.098

4
17. 7 10
6
A 1.4 10
2
B 1.4 10

6
A 1.2 10
6
B 12 10

2
C 1.4 10
6
D 1.4 10

23.

4
C 0.12 10
5
D 1.2 10

5
En Hassan has 1.01 10 acres of land.

He wants to divide his land equally among

Standard Form

142

his 8 children. Calculate the land area, in

SPM Past Year Questions

acres, that each of En Hassans children

gets.

SPM 2003 (November)

A 1.3 10
5
B 1.3 10

24.

C 8.1 10
6
D 8.1 10
5

figures.
A. 0.003

8
1
The speed of light is given as 3 10 ms .
Calculate the time, in seconds, light takes to
10
travel 3 10 m.
2
A 1.2 10
2
B 1.2 10

Round off 0.0368 correct to two significant

B. 0.04
C. 0.036
D. 0.037

3
C 8.3 10
3
D 8.3 10

6.27 10 4
A. 0.0000627
B. 0.000627
C. 62 700
D. 6 270 000

3. 1.8 10 5 88000
5
A 2.68 10
9
B 2.68 10

1.06 10 5

1.06 10 9
4. The area of a rectangular nursery plot is
7.2 km 2 . Its width is 2400 m. The
length, in m, of the nursery plot is
3
A 3 10
4
B 3 10
3
C 4.8 10
4
D 4.8 10

SPM 2004 (June)

1

Standard Form

143

Round off 10 875 correct to three

significant figures.
A 10 800
C 10 870
B 10 880
D 10 900

4
5
State 7. 06 10 as a single number.

A 70 600
B 706 000

C 7 060 000
D 70 600 000

The length of a reel of red thread is 1.3 10

mm and the length of a reel of blue thread is
65000 cm. Calculate the total length, in cm, of
one reel of red thread and four reels of blue
thread.
6

5
A 1.56 10
5
B 2.73 10

5
C 3.9 10
5
D 7.8 10

0.0002
4 10 3 =
8
A 5 10
2
B 5 10

7
C 5 10

D 5 10

A. 0.08

C. 0.0810

B. 0.081

D. 0.0811

SPM 2005 (June)

1

Round off 0.002496 correct to three

significant figures.

A 0.02

C 00.00249

B 0.03

D 0.00250

Express 22 million in standard form.

SPM 2004 ( NOVEMBER)

1

Round off 0.08108 correct to three

significant figures.

6
A 22 10

6
C 2.2 10

7
B 22 10

7
D 2.2 10

Express 0.0000203 in standard form

2.03 10

2.03 10

203 10 7

20.3 10 8

4.86 10 2

3 10

3 2

3
A 2.53 10

4
C 2.53 10

3
B 3.50 10

4
D 3.50 10

In July, the mean number of shirts produced by

factories J, K and L was 14 000. Factory K

produced 9 600 shirts. Factory J produced three

times as many as factory L. How many shirts

3
A 1.62 10

did factory J produce in July?

4
B 1.62 10

4
3
3.2 10 - 6.7 10 =

5.4 10 3

4
A 2.43 10

4
C 4.2 10

4
B 3.24 10

4
D 4.4 10

4
D 5.4 10

SPM 2005 (NOVEMBER)

1
3

4.21 10 7 2.6 10 8
8

A 1.61 10
7
B 1.61 10

C 3.95 10
7
D 3.95 10

Round off 70615 correct to three

significant figures.
A. 70 600

C. 70 610

B. 70 620

D. 70 700

6
2 Express 7.564 10 as single number.

Standard Form

144

A. 0.007564

C. 0.000007564

B. 0.0526

D. 0.052

B. 0.00007564 D. 0.0000007564
3

0.03

5 000 000

4
2 Express 7.564 10 as a single number.

6 10 8

3
A 6 10

4
B 6 10

9
D 6 10

A. 75 640 000

C. 0.0007564

B. 75 640

D. 0.00007564

SPM 2006 (NOVEMBER)

1

Round off 50 941 correct to three

significant figures.
A. 509

C. 50 940

B. 510

D. 50 900

10
9
3. 8.3 10 2.1 10 =

2 Express 351 000 in standard form.

3
A. 3.51 10

3
C. 3.51 10

5
B. 3.51 10

5
D. 3.51 10

9
A 6.2 10

8.09 10 9

10
B 6.2 10

10
D 8.09 10

4. Pak Abu has a rectangular garden. The length of

the garden is 45 m and its width is 20m. Pak Abu
wants to enclose his garden with a wire fence.
Calculate the total length, in cm, of the wire fence
required.

7
0.0000025 1.3 10 =
6
A 1.2 10

2.37 10 6

7
B 1.2 10

7
D 2.37 10

3
A 6.5 10

4
C 9.0 10

1.3 10 4

5
D 3.6 10

SPM 2007 (NOVEMBER)

4

A rectangular floor has a width of 2400 cm

and a length of 3000 cm. The floor will be

Round off 30 106 correct to three

significant figures.

covered with tiles. Each tile is a square of side

A. 30 000

C. 30 110

20 cm. Calculate the number of tiles required

B. 30 100

D. 30 200

to cover the floor fully.

4
A 1.8 10

1.8 10 8

4
C 3.6 10

2 Express 1.205 10 as single number.

4

8
D 3.6 10

A. 1205

C. 1 205 000

B. 12 050

D. 12 050 000

SPM 2007 (June)

1

Round off 0.05268 correct to three

significant figures.
A. 0.0527

0.0078 6 10 5 = .
3
A 1.83 10

C. 0.053
B

Standard Form

145

1.83 10 5

3
C 7.74 10
5
D 7.74 10

C. 0.68
SPM 2008 (June)
1

D. 0.70

Round off 8 157 correct to three

significant figures.
A. 815

C. 8 150

B. 816

D. 8 160

2 Express 0.0000101 in standard form.

A. 1.01 10

2 State 4.06 10 as single number.

4

A. 4 060

C. 406 000

B. 40 600

D. 4 060 000

B. 1.01 10

C. 1.01 10

D. 1.01 10

6.1 10 5 1.2 10 4 = .
4
A 4.90 10

5.98 10

5
C 4.90 10

D 5.98 10

3.1 1015 6.2 1014

14
A 3.72 10
14
B 6.51 10

4 Diagram 1 shows a rectangle representing an

agricultural zone and a square representing an

industrial zone.

3.72 1015

15
D 6.51 10

Agricultural zone

Industrial zone

4 10 3 m

4 Diagram 1 shows an empty tank, which is

cuboid , with length 800 cm, width 500 cm

5 10 m
4

and height 300 cm.

Diagram1

300 cm
Calculate the area, in m2 , of the agricultural
500 cm

zone
A. 1.84 10
B. 1.84 10

7
C. 4 10

6
D. 4 10

800 cm

Diagram1
A worker fills up 80% of the tank with water.

SPM 2008 (NOVEMBER)

1

Calculate the volume, in cm3, of water in the

Round off 0.6782 correct to two

significant figures.

tank.
6
A 1.2 10

A. 0.60

B. 0.67

Standard Form

146

1.2 10 8

7
C 9.6 10
9
D 9.6 10

ANSWERS
Chapter 9: Standard Form
1.1
1 sf

2 sf

3 sf

80000

80000

80500

3000

3100

3070

500

510

507

20

21

20.6

10

3.5

3.47

12

0.3

0.30

0.300

14

0.03

0.033

0.0330

16

0.0008

0.00080

0.000800

18

0.00006

0.000064

0.0000644

20

0.00004

0.000041

0.0000410

1.2
3
1 a) 3.657 10

Standard Form

147

3
b) 3.458 10

SPM NOV 2004

1 A
2 C

SPM JUNE 2005

1 D
2 D

SPM NOV 2005

1 A
2
C

SPM NOV 2006

1 D
2
B

b) 1902

SPM JUNE 2007

1 A
2
B

d)
f)
h)
j)

48.01
0.2218
0.006319
0.0000942

SPM NOV 2007

1 B
2
B

b)

4.42 10 3

SPM JUNE 2008

1 D
2
B

SPM NOV 2008

1 C
2
B

c)

2.1 10 2

d)

7.61 10 1

e)

6.78 10 0

f)

5.78 10 1

g)

9.96 10

i)

3.21 10 4

2a)
c)
e)
g)
i)

58 740
106.1
7.068
0.09655
0.00563

h)

8.93 10

j)

9.92 10 5

b) 1902
d) 48.01
f) 0.2218
h) 0.006319
j) 0.0000942

1.21
7.33 10 4
1a)
c) 106.1
e) 7.068
g) 0.09655
i) 0.00563
2a)
c)

7.33 10 4
8.77 10

d)

6.28 10

1.22
a)

2.15 10 9

b)

1.40 10 1

c)

2.84 10 5

d)

6.00 10 2

e)

2.9 10 2

f)

7.00 10 2

g)

1.2 10 6

EXAMINATION FORMAT QUESTIONS

1
4
7
10
13
16
19
22

D
A
D
C
C
C
D
A

2
5
8
11
14
17
20
23

B
D
B
A
B
A
A
A

3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24

B
B
D
B
A
D
B
A

SPM PAST YEAR QUESTIONS

SPM NOV 2003
1 D
2
B
3
A
4

SPM JUNE 2004

Standard Form

148