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

6 4 3 4 9

(3)

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

4<5 digit to be rounded 3, is

unchanged. After the decimal
point digit 4 is dropped.

0.0643 ( 3 significant figures )

(2)

7.0 7 2

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

64349

80492

6739

3065

708.3

506.6

96.70

20.63

5.866

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 significant figure

2 significant figures

3 significant figures

60000

64000

64300

7000

6700

6740

700

710

708

100

97

96.7

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

1.2 Standard Form

1.2 a.

Expressing Numbers in Standard Form

Important Concept
In standard form a number is written as

A 10n

where 1 A 10 and n is an integer

example: 2.938 10 3 , 1.688 10 2
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.
if the decimal point is moved to the left, n is a positive integer.

Standard Form

136

 if the decimal point is moved to the right, n is a negative integer.

STEP 3 : Write the number in the form A 10 n
Example
1. 1 6 8 8 = 1. 6 8 8

10 3

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.
Step 3 : Write the number in the form A 10 n , hence 1.688 10 3
2. 0.0 0 0 0 5 4 6 = 5.46 10 5
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.
Step 3 : Write the number in the form A 10 n , hence 5.46 10 5
EXERCISE:
1. Express each of the following in standard form
a) 29320
2.932 10 4

a) 30 657 =

b) 19 42 1.942 10 3

b) 3458 =

c) 789 7.89 10 2

c) 210 =

d) 32.9 3.29 101

d) 76.1=

e) 5.32 5.32 10 0

e) 6.78

f) 0.672 6.72 10 1

c) 0.578

g)

g) 0.0996

h)

h) 0.00893

0.0143 1.43 10

0.00665 6.66 10

i) 0.000321

i)
0.00078 7.8 10

j) 0.0000992

j)

0.000085 8.5 10

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

a) 6.851 10 4 68510

a) 5.874 10 4

b) 3.221 10 3 3221

b) 1.902 10 3

c) 7.685 10 2 768.5

c) 1.061 10 2

d) 8.853 101 88.53

d) 4.801 101

e) 6.001 10 0 6.001

e) 7.068 10 0

f)

f) 2.218 10 1

Standard Form

137

5.861 10

0.5861

g)
6.008 10

0.06008

i)
3.76 10

0.000376

g) 9.655 10 2

h)

i) 5.63 10 4

j)

1.2b

Operations involving Standard Form

1.21

Addition and Subtraction

2.45 10

6.73 10

0.00245

0.0000673

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
a)

4.5 10 3 8.1 10 4
0.45 10 31 8.1 10 4
0.45 10 4 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

(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 2 1
(7.5 0.81) 10 3

Standard Form

138

h) 6.319 10 3

j) 9.42 10 5

 6.691 10 3

9.4 10 3 7.3 10 4
9.4 10 3 0.73 10 41
9.4 10 3 0.73 10 3

d)

d)

7.2 10 3 9.2 10 4

(9.4 0.73) 10 3

8.67 10 3

1.22

Multiplication and Division

a) ( A 10 m ) ( B 10 n )
( 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
a) 4 10 6 3.6 10 2
( 4 3.6) 10

a) 5 10 6 4.3 10 2

6 2

14.4 10 8
1.44 10 9

b) 5.7 10 4 2 10 2

b) 3.5 10 4 4 10 2

(5.7 2) 10 4 2

11.4 10 2
1.14 10 1

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

c) 7.1 10 2 4 10 4

2 4

18.6 10 6
1.86 10 5

Standard Form

139

d)

8.7 10 5
2 10 2
8 .7

10 5 2
2

d)

1.2 10 8
2 10 5

e)

8.7 10 7
3 10 5

f)

5.6 10 6
8 10 5

g)

6 10 3
5000

4.35 10 3

e)

7.2 10 2
4 10 5
7.2

10 25
4
1.8 10 3

f)

6.3 10 6
9 10 5
6 .3

10 6 5
9
0.7 10 1
7 10 2

g)

3 10 6
600
3 10 6

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

Standard Form

140

EXAMINATION FORMAT QUESTIONS

A 0.0000384
B 0.000384

1. Round off 6 284 correct to 2

significant figures.
A 6 200
B 6 280

C 6 290
D 6 300

7. 1.02 10 5
A 102
B 1020

2. Round off 10726 correct to 2

significant figures.
A 1100
B 10000

A 0.0000384
B 0.000384

C 3840
D 384000

9. Express 0.000072 in standard form.

C 2.7
D 2.70

A 7.2 10 1
B 7.2 10 2

4. Round off 0.00035118 correct to 3

significant figures.
A 0.000351
B 0.0003511

C 10200
D 102000

8. 3.84 10 4

C 10700
D 10

3. Round off 2.673 correct to 3

significant figures.
A 2.6
B 2.67

C 3840
D 384000

7.2 10 4

7.2 10 5

10. Express 558000 in standard form.

C 0.003512
D 0.0003521

A 5.58 10 3
B 5.58 10 4

5.58 10 5

5.58 10 6

5. Round off 0.0368 correct to two significant

figures.

11. 2.6 10 5 66000

A. 0.03

C 0.04

B. 0.036

D. 0.037

A 3.26 10 5
B 3.26 10 9

C 6.86 10 5
D 6.86 10 9

6. 3.84 10 4
12.

Standard Form

141

4.8 1012 2.7 1013

A 3.18 1012
B 3.18 1013

C 7.5 1012
D 7.5 1013

A 5.00 10 1
B 5.00 101

21. RM 1.36 millions is to be shared by four

13. 6.35 10 5 3.2 10 6

A 3.12 10 5
B 3.12 10 6

people. Express the answer in standard

C 6.03 10 5
D 6.03 10 6

form.
A. 3.4 x 10-5
B. 3.4 x 10

14. 9.4 10 7700000

6

A 1.7 10 5
B 1.7 10 6

C 3.13 10 4
D 3.13 10 4

C 8.63 10 5
D 8.63 10 6

C. 340 x 10
D. 3.40 x 105

22.
P

15

3.0 10 2

4.9 5 10 6

A 2.45 10 7
B 2.45 10 8

C 2.45 10 9
D 2.45 1010

4 10 3 cm

Diagram 1
16. 5.4 1012 4 10 10
A 2.16 101
B 2.16 10 2
17.

In the Diagram 1, PQRS is a rectangle.

The area, in cm 2 , of the rectangle is

C 2.16 10 3
D 2.16 10 4

0.098

7 10 4

23.

A 1.2 10 6
C 0.12 10 4
B 12 10 6
D 1.2 10 5
En Hassan has 1.01 10 5 acres of

land.
6

A 1.4 10
B 1.4 10 2

C 1.4 10
D 1.4 10 6
2

He wants to divide his land equally

among
his 8 children. Calculate the land area, in

18.

3.04 10
0.004

14

gets.

A 7.60 1013
B 7.60 1014
19.

7840

7 10

2 2

A 1.3 10 4
B 1.3 10 5

C 7.60 1015
D 7.60 1016
24.

A 1.12 10 5
B 1.12 10 6
20.

acres, that each of En Hassans children

C 1.6 10 5
D 1.6 10 6

Standard Form

The speed of light is given as

3 10 8 ms 1 .
Calculate the time, in seconds, light takes
to travel 3 1010 m.
A 1.2 10 2
B 1.2 10 2

2000

16 4 10 3

142

C 8.1 10 5
D 8.1 10 6

C 8.3 10 3
D 8.3 10 3

C. 62 700
D. 6 270 000
3. 1.8 10 5 88000
A 2.68 10 5
B 2.68 10 9
C 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
A 3 10 3
B 3 10 4
C 4.8 10 3
D 4.8 10 4
SPM 2004 (June)
1

SPM Past Year Questions

3

SPM 2003 (November)

1

Round off 0.0368 correct to two

significant figures.
A. 0.003

10 5
7.8

B. 0.04
C. 0.036

D. 0.037
2

State 7. 06 10 5 as a single number.

A 70 600
C 7 060 000
B 706 000
D 70 600 000
The length of a reel of red thread is 1.3
10 6 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.
A 1.56 10 5
C 3.9
5
B 2.73 10
D
5
10

0.0002
=
4 10 3
A 5
B 5

6.27 10 4

A. 0.0000627

10 8
10 2

SPM 2004 ( NOVEMBER)

B. 0.000627

Standard Form

Round off 10 875 correct to three

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

143

C 5
D 5

10 7
10 1

10 3
B 3.50 10 3

Express 0.0000203 in standard form

2.03 10 5

B
C
D

2.03 10 6
203 10 7
20.3 10 8

In July, the mean number of shirts produced

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

3 10

3 2

three times as many as factory L. How

many shirts did factory J produce in July?

A 1.62 10

10 4
B 3.24 10 4

SPM 2005 (NOVEMBER)

1

C 3.95 10 8
D 3.95 10 7

C. 0.0810

B. 0.081

D. 0.0811

C 00.00249

B 0.03

D 0.00250

10 6
B 22 10 7
4

10 6
D 2.2 10 7
C 2.2

- 6.7

10

6 10 8

D 6 10 9

SPM 2006 (NOVEMBER)

Express 22 million in standard form.

Standard Form

C. 0.000007564

0.03

5 000 000

A 6 10 3

A 0.02

10

D. 70 700

B. 0.00007564 D. 0.0000007564

Round off 0.002496 correct to three

significant figures.

3.2

B. 70 620

B 6 10 4

A 22

C. 70 610

A. 0.007564

Round off 0.08108 correct to three

significant figures.
A. 0.08

A. 70 600

2 Express 7.564 10 6 as single number.

SPM 2005 (June)

Round off 70615 correct to three

significant figures.

4.21 10 7 2.6 10 8

A 1.61 10 8
B 1.61 10 7

C 4.2

5.4 10 3

D 5.4 10 4

10 4
D 4.4 10 4

A 2.43

B 1.62 10 4

C 2.53

K produced 9 600 shirts. Factory J produced

4.86 10 2

10 4
D 3.50 10 4

A 2.53

Round off 50 941 correct to three

significant figures.
A. 509

C. 50 940

B. 510

D. 50 900

2 Express 351 000 in standard form.

A. 3.51 10 3 C. 3.51 10 3
B. 3.51 10 5 D. 3.51 10 5

144

0.0000025 1.3 10 7 =

4. Pak Abu has a rectangular garden. The

A 1.2 10 6

length of the garden is 45 m and its width is

20m. Pak Abu wants to enclose his garden

2.37 10 6
B 1.2 10 7

with a wire fence. Calculate the total length, in

cm, of the wire fence required.

2.37 10 7
4

cm and a length of 3000 cm. The floor

will be covered with tiles. Each tile is a
number of tiles required to cover the floor
fully.

1.8 10 8

D 3.6 10 8

D 3.6 10 5

Round off 30 106 correct to three

significant figures.
A. 30 000

C. 30 110

B. 30 100

D. 30 200

2 Express 1.205 10 4 as single number.

SPM 2007 (June)

1

1.3 10 4

SPM 2007 (NOVEMBER)

1

square of side 20 cm. Calculate the

C 3.6 10 4

C 9.0 10 4

A rectangular floor has a width of 2400

A 1.8 10 4

A 6.5 10 3

A. 1205

C. 1 205 000

B. 12 050

D. 12 050 000

Round off 0.05268 correct to three

significant figures.
A. 0.0527

C. 0.053

B. 0.0526

D. 0.052

0.0078 6 10 5 = .
A 1.83 10 3

7.74 10 3
B
2 Express 7.564 10 4 as a single

1.83 10 5

7.74 10 5

number.
A. 75 640 000

C. 0.0007564

B. 75 640

D. 0.00007564

SPM 2008 (June)

3. 8.3 1010 2.1 10 9 =

A 6.2 10 9

Standard Form

Round off 8 157 correct to three

significant figures.
A. 815

C. 8 150

B. 816

D. 8 160

C
2 State 4.06 10 4 as single number.

8.09 10 9
B 6.2 1010

D 8.09 1010

145

A. 4 060

C. 406 000

B. 40 600

D. 4 060 000

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

4.90 10 5
5.98 10

5.98 10

3.1 1015 6.2 1014

A 3.72 1014

B 6.51 1014

4 Diagram 1 shows a rectangle representing an

agricultural zone and a square representing an

3.72 1015

D 6.51 1015

industrial zone.
4 Diagram 1 shows an empty tank, which is

Agricultural zone

Industrial
zone

4 10 3 m cuboid , with length 800 cm, width 500 cm

and height 300 cm.

4
5

10
m
Diagram1

300 cm
500 cm

Calculate the area, in m , of the agricultural

800 cm
Diagram1

zone
A. 1.84 10 8 C. 4 10 7
B. 1.84 10 7 D. 4 10 6

A worker fills up 80% of the tank with

water. Calculate the volume, in cm3, of
water in the tank.

SPM 2008 (NOVEMBER)

1

Round off 0.6782 correct to two

significant figures.

C 9.6 10 7

1.2 10 8

D 9.6 10 9

A. 0.60
B. 0.67
C. 0.68
D. 0.70

2 Express 0.0000101 in standard form.

A. 1.01 10 6
B. 1.01 10 5
C. 1.01 10 5
D. 1.01 10 6

Standard Form

A 1.2 10 6

146

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
1 a)
3

3.657 10
c)
2.1 10 2

e)

b) 3.458 10 3
d)
f)

7.61 101
5.78 10 1

h)

8.93 10 3

j)

9.92 10 5

6.78 10 0

g)
9.96 10

i)
3.21 10 4

2a)
c)
e)
g)
i)

58 740
106.1
7.068
0.09655
0.00563

1.21

Standard Form

147

b)
d)
f)
h)
j)

1902
48.01
0.2218
0.006319
0.0000942

1a)

b) 1902

7.33 10

c)
e)
g)
i)

106.1
7.068
0.09655
0.00563

2a)

d)
f)
h)
j)

48.01
0.2218
0.006319
0.0000942

b)

4.42 10 3

d)

6.28 10 3

7.33 10 4

c)

8.77 10 3

1.22
a)
c)

2.15 10 9

2.84 10 5
e) 2.9 10 2
g) 1.2 10 6

b)
d)

1.40 10 1
6.00 10 2

f)

7.00 10 2

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

1 D
2 B

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

Standard Form

148

SPM JUNE 2007

1 A
2
B

SPM NOV 2007

1 B
2
B

SPM JUNE 2008

1 D
2
B

SPM NOV 2008

1 C
2
B