MR.

THIYAKU MARUTHA
Chapter 1: STANDARD FORM
1.1 Significant Figures

Important concepts

Round off the following numbers correct to the number of significant figures indicated within
the brackets.

64 349 (3) 707.2 (2)

6 47 30 7.
4 29 7>5 ,digit
4<5 1 is to
added
be rounded
to the digit
3, isto
unchanged.
be rounded 0, Before
0+1=1 the.After
decimal point,
point each
digitdigit
2 is is
replaced by 0
dropped.

64 300 ( 3 significant figures ) 710 ( 2 significant figures )

0.064 34 (3) 7.072 (2)

0. 07.0
6 47 23 4 7>5
4<5,digit
1 is added
to be rounded
to the digit
3, is0,
unchanged.
0+1=1 AfterAfter
the decimal
the decimal
point digit
point, digits4 7isand
dropped.
2 are
dropped.

0.0643 ( 3 significant figures ) 7.1 ( 2 significant figures )

Examples & Exercises

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

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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
 Number 1 significant figure 2 significant figures 3 significant figures
1 64349 60000 64000 64300
2 80492
3 6739 7000 6700 6740
4 3065
5 708.3 700 710 708
6 506.6
7 96.70 100 97 96.7
8 20.63
9 5.866 6 6.0 5.87

10 3.465
11 0.4979 0.5 0.50 0.498
12 0.2997
13 0.04567 0.05 0.046 0.0457
14 0.03296
15 0.002902 0.003 0.0029 0.00290
16 0.0007998
17 0.00005823 0.00006 0.000058 0.0000582
18 0.00006435
19 0.00008395 0.00008 0.000084 0.0000900
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 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.
if the decimal point is moved to the right, n is a negative integer.

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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
 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 a) 30 657 = b) 19 42 1.942 10 3 b) 3458 =

2.932 10 4

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
2 3
0.0143 1.43 10 0.00665 6.66 10

i) i) 0.000321 j) j) 0.0000992
4 5
0.00078 7.8 10 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

1
5.861 10 0.5861

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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
g) g) 9.655 10 2 h) h) 6.319 10 3
2 3
6.008 10 0.06008 2.45 10 0.00245

i) i) 5.63 10 4 j) j) 9.42 10 5
4
3.76 10 0.000376 6.73 10 5
0.0000673

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

a) 4.5 10 3 8.1 10 4 a) 2.3 10 3 7.1 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 b) 7.2 10 4 3.7 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 c) 9.5 10 3 7.3 10 2

7.5 10 3 0.81 10 2 1
(7.5 0.81) 10 3
6.691 10 3

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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
d) 9.4 10 3 7.3 10 4 d) 7.2 10 3 9.2 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

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 a) 5 10 6 4.3 10 2
( 4 3.6) 10 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 c) 7.1 10 2 4 10 4
(6.2 3) 10 2 4
18.6 10 6
1.86 10 5

8.7 10 5 1.2 10 8
d) d)
2 10 2 2 10 5

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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
 8 .7
10 5 2
2
4.35 10 3

7.2 10 2 8.7 10 7
e) e)
4 10 5 3 10 5
7.2
10 25
4
1.8 10 3

6.3 10 6 5.6 10 6
f) f)
9 10 5 8 10 5
6 .3
10 6 5
9
0.7 10 1
7 10 2

3 10 6 6 10 3
g) g)
600 5000
3 10 6

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

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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
EXAMINATION FORMAT QUESTIONS
A 102 C 10200
1. Round off 6 284 correct to 2 B 1020 D 102000
significant figures.

A 6 200 C 6 290
B 6 280 D 6 300 8. 3.84 10 4

A 0.0000384 C 3840
2. Round off 10726 correct to 2 B 0.000384 D 384000
significant figures.

A 1100 C 10700
B 10000 D 10
9. Express 0.000072 in standard form.
3. Round off 2.673 correct to 3
A 7.2 10 1 C 7.2 10 4
significant figures.
B 7.2 10 2 D 7.2 10 5
A 2.6 C 2.7
B 2.67 D 2.70
10. Express 558000 in standard form.
4. Round off 0.00035118 correct to 3
A 5.58 10 3 C 5.58 10 5
significant figures.
B 5.58 10 4 D 5.58 10 6
A 0.000351 C 0.003512
B 0.0003511 D 0.0003521
11. 2.6 10 5 66000

5. Round off 0.0368 correct to two significant A 3.26 10 5 C 6.86 10 5

figures. B 3.26 10 9 D 6.86 10 9

A. 0.03 C 0.04
B. 0.036 D. 0.037 12. 4.8 1012 2.7 1013

A 3.18 1012 C 7.5 1012

6. 3.84 10 4
B 3.18 1013 D 7.5 1013
A 0.0000384 C 3840
B 0.000384 D 384000
13. 6.35 10 5 3.2 10 6

7. 1.02 10 5 A 3.12 10 5 C 6.03 10 5

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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
 B 3.12 10 6 D 6.03 10 6 A. 3.4 x 10-5 C. 340 x 10
B. 3.4 x 104 D. 3.40 x 105

14. 9.4 10 6 7700000

A 1.7 10 5 C 8.63 10 5
B 1.7 10 6 D 8.63 10 6

15 4.9 5 10 6
A 2.45 10 7 C 2.45 10 9
B 2.45 10 8 D 2.45 1010

16. 5.4 1012 4 10 10

A 2.16 101 C 2.16 10 3

B 2.16 10 2 D 2.16 10 4
22.
0.098 P S
17.
7 10 4
3.0 10 2
A 1.4 10 6 C 1.4 10 2
Q R
B 1.4 10 2 D 1.4 10 6 4 10 3 cm

Diagram 1
3.04 1014
18. In the Diagram 1, PQRS is a rectangle.
0.004
The area, in cm 2 , of the rectangle is
A 7.60 1013 C 7.60 1015
B 7.60 1014 D 7.60 1016 A 1.2 10 6 C 0.12 10 4
B 12 10 6 D 1.2 10 5
7840

19.
7 10
2 2

A 1.12 10 5 C 1.6 10 5 23. En Hassan has 1.01 10 5 acres of

B 1.12 10 6 D 1.6 10 6
land.
2000 He wants to divide his land equally
20.
16 4 10 3 among

A 5.00 10 1 C 3.13 10 4 his 8 children. Calculate the land area, in

B 5.00 101 D 3.13 10 4 acres, that each of En Hassans children
gets.
21. RM 1.36 millions is to be shared by four
A 1.3 10 4 C 8.1 10 5
people. Express the answer in standard
B 1.3 10 5 D 8.1 10 6
form.

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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
 24. The speed of light is given as
3 10 8 ms 1 . 4. The area of a rectangular nursery plot is
Calculate the time, in seconds, light takes 7.2 km 2 . Its width is 2400 m. The
to travel 3 1010 m.
length, in m, of the nursery plot is
3
A 1.2 10 2
C 8.3 10
B 1.2 10 2 D 8.3 10 3 A 3 10 3
B 3 10 4
C 4.8 10 3
D 4.8 10 4

SPM 2004 (June)

1 Round off 10 875 correct to three

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

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

A 70 600 C 7 060 000
B 706 000 D 70 600 000
SPM Past Year Questions 3 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
SPM 2003 (November) length, in cm, of one reel of red thread and
four reels of blue thread.
1 Round off 0.0368 correct to two A 1.56 10 5 C 3.9
significant figures. 10 5 B 2.73 10 5
D
A. 0.003 7.8 10 5

B. 0.04 0.0002
4 =
C. 0.036 4 10 3
D. 0.037 A 5 10 8 C 5 10 7
B 5 10 2 D 5 10 1
2 6.27 10 4
A. 0.0000627 SPM 2004 ( NOVEMBER)
B. 0.000627 1 Express 0.0000203 in standard form
C. 62 700
A 2.03 10 5
D. 6 270 000
B 2.03 10 6
C 203 10 7
3. 1.8 10 5 88000
D 20.3 10 8
A 2.68 10 5
4.86 10 2
B 2.68 10 9 2
C 1.06 10 5 3 10
3 2

D 1.06 10 9

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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
 A 1.62 10 3 B 3.24 10 4 D 4.4 10 4
B 1.62 10 4
C 5.4 10 3 SPM 2005 (NOVEMBER)
1 Round off 70615 correct to three
D 5.4 10 4
significant figures.

A. 70 600 C. 70 610
B. 70 620 D. 70 700
3 4.21 10 7 2.6 10 8

A 1.61 10 8 C 3.95 10 8 2 Express 7.564 10 6 as single number.

B 1.61 10 7 D 3.95 10 7
A. 0.007564 C. 0.000007564
B. 0.00007564 D. 0.0000007564
4 Round off 0.08108 correct to three
0.03
significant figures. 3
5 000 000
A. 0.08 C. 0.0810 A 6 10 3 C 6 10 8
B. 0.081 D. 0.0811
B 6 10 4 D 6 10 9

SPM 2005 (June) SPM 2006 (NOVEMBER)

1 Round off 0.002496 correct to three 1 Round off 50 941 correct to three
significant figures. significant figures.

A 0.02 C 00.00249 A. 509 C. 50 940

B 0.03 D 0.00250 B. 510 D. 50 900

2 Express 22 million in standard form. 2 Express 351 000 in standard form.

A 22 10 6 C 2.2 10 6 A. 3.51 10 3 C. 3.51 10 3
B 22 10 7 D 2.2 10 7 B. 3.51 10 5 D. 3.51 10 5

3 3.2 10 4 - 6.7 10 3 = 3 0.0000025 1.3 10 7 =

A 2.53 10 3 C 2.53 10 4 A 1.2 10 6 C
B 3.50 10 3 D 3.50 10 4 2.37 10 6
B 1.2 10 7 D
4 In July, the mean number of shirts produced
2.37 10 7
by factories J, K and L was 14 000. Factory
K produced 9 600 shirts. Factory J produced
4 A rectangular floor has a width of 2400
three times as many as factory L. How
cm and a length of 3000 cm. The floor
many shirts did factory J produce in July?
will be covered with tiles. Each tile is a
A 2.43 10 4 C 4.2 10 4 square of side 20 cm. Calculate the

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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
 number of tiles required to cover the floor B. 30 100 D. 30 200
fully.
A 1.8 10 4 C 3.6 10 4 2 Express 1.205 10 4 as single number.
B 1.8 10 8 D 3.6 10 8 A. 1205 C. 1 205 000
B. 12 050 D. 12 050 000
SPM 2007 (June)
1 Round off 0.05268 correct to three 3 0.0078 6 10 5 = .
significant figures.
A 1.83 10 3 C
A. 0.0527 C. 0.053
7.74 10 3
B. 0.0526 D. 0.052
B 1.83 10 5 D

7.74 10 5

2 Express 7.564 10 4 as a single

SPM 2008 (June)
number.
1 Round off 8 157 correct to three
A. 75 640 000 C. 0.0007564 significant figures.
B. 75 640 D. 0.00007564
A. 815 C. 8 150
B. 816 D. 8 160

3. 8.3 1010 2.1 10 9 =

2 State 4.06 10 4 as single number.
A 6.2 10 9
C
A. 4 060 C. 406 000
8.09 10 9
B. 40 600 D. 4 060 000
B 6.2 10 10
D 8.09 10 10
3 6.1 10 5 1.2 10 4 = .
A 4.90 10 4 C
4. Pak Abu has a rectangular garden. The
4.90 10 5
length of the garden is 45 m and its width is
20m. Pak Abu wants to enclose his garden
B 5.98 10 4 D

with a wire fence. Calculate the total length, in 5.98 10 5

cm, of the wire fence required.
A 6.5 10 3 C 9.0 10 4 4 Diagram 1 shows a rectangle representing an

B 1.3 10 4 D 3.6 10 5 agricultural zone and a square representing an

industrial zone.

SPM 2007 (NOVEMBER)

Industrial 4 10 m
3
1 Round off 30 106 correct to three Agricultural zone
significant figures. zone

A. 30 000 C. 30 110
5
Diagram1
10 4
m
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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
 Calculate the area, in m2 , of the agricultural Diagram1
zone
A. 1.84 10 8 C. 4 10 7 A worker fills up 80% of the tank with

B. 1.84 10 7 D. 4 10 6 water. Calculate the volume, in cm3, of

water in the tank.

SPM 2008 (NOVEMBER) A 1.2 10 6 C 9.6 10 7

1 Round off 0.6782 correct to two B 1.2 10 8 D 9.6 10 9

significant figures.

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 PREPARED BY
C. 1.01 10 5 MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
Bsc. Actuarial Science & Statistics
D. 1.01 10 6 (Hons) University Malaya

3 3.1 1015 6.2 1014

A 3.72 1014
B 6.51 1014

C 3.72 1015
D 6.51 1015

4 Diagram 1 shows an empty tank, which is

cuboid , with length 800 cm, width 500 cm
and height 300 cm.

300 cm

500 cm

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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
 1.2

1 a) b) 3.458 10 3
3
3.657 10
c) 2.1 10 2 d) 7.61 101
e) f) 5.78 10 1
6.78 10 0
g) h) 8.93 10 3
9.96 10 2
i) j) 9.92 10 5
4
3.21 10

2a) 58 740 b) 1902

c) 106.1 d) 48.01
e) 7.068 f) 0.2218
g) 0.09655 h) 0.006319
i) 0.00563 j) 0.0000942

1.21

1a) b) 1902
7.33 10 4
c) 106.1 d) 48.01
e) 7.068 f) 0.2218
g) 0.09655 h) 0.006319
i) 0.00563 j) 0.0000942
ANSWERS
Chapter 9: Standard Form 2a) b) 4.42 10 3
4
7.33 10
1.1 c) 8.77 10 3 d) 6.28 10 3

1 sf 2 sf 3 sf
1.22
2 80000 80000 80500
a) 2.15 10 9 b) 1.40 10 1
4 3000 3100 3070
c) d) 6.00 10 2
6 500 510 507 2.84 10 5
8 20 21 20.6 e) 2.9 10 2 f) 7.00 10 2
g) 1.2 10 6
10 3 3.5 3.47
12 0.3 0.30 0.300 EXAMINATION FORMAT QUESTIONS

14 0.03 0.033 0.0330 1 D 2 B 3 B

16 0.0008 0.00080 0.000800
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18 0.00006 0.000064 0.0000644 MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA
20 0.00004 0.000041 0.0000410
4 A 5 D 6 B
7 D 8 B 9 D
10 C 11 A 12 B
13 C 14 B 15 A
16 C 17 A 18 D
19 D 20 A 21 B
22 A 23 A 24 A

SPM PAST YEAR QUESTIONS

SPM NOV 2003
1 D 2 B 3 A 4 A

SPM JUNE 2004

1 D 2 B 3 C 4 D

SPM NOV 2004

1 A 2 C 3 D 4 D

SPM JUNE 2005

1 D 2 D 3 C 4 B

SPM NOV 2005

1 A 2 C 3 D

SPM NOV 2006

1 D 2 B 3 C 4 A

SPM JUNE 2007

1 A 2 B 3 D 4 B

SPM NOV 2007

1 B 2 B 3 C

SPM JUNE 2008

1 D 2 B 3 D 4 A

SPM NOV 2008

1 C 2 B 3 C 4 C

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MR. THIYAKU MARUTHA