GCSE Maths – Number

Standard Form
Notes

WORKSHEET

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Standard Form

Standard form is a system of writing numbers. It is most commonly used when dealing with
very large or very small numbers, as it makes the numbers easier to read and use.

Standard form has the format 𝑨𝑨 × 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝒏𝒏 .

For example,
2000 = 2 × 103
0.000045 = 4.5 × 10−5

This is a more practical way of writing numbers such as 2000 and 0.000045, respectively.

The first part of standard form, 𝑨𝑨, is called the base number. The base number must be
greater than or equal to 𝟏𝟏, and less than 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏: 1 ≤ 𝐴𝐴 < 10

The second part of standard form is 10𝑛𝑛 . Whatever number 𝑛𝑛 takes tells us what power of
10 we multiply the base number by. The value 𝑛𝑛 must be an integer (a whole number).

Example: Convert 37000 to standard form

The base number must be more than or equal to 1, but less than 10.
Therefore, it must be 3.7 as we take the initial part of the number 37000.

We now work out what power of 10 we multiply 3.7 by to get 37000.

3.7 × 10000 = 37000

10000 = 104

So, 37000 in standard form is

𝟑𝟑. 𝟕𝟕 × 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟒𝟒 .

Example: Convert 7.94 × 106 from standard form into ordinary form

106 = 1000000

7.94 × 106 = 7.94 × 1000000 = 𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕

The number that 𝑛𝑛 takes, referring to the power of 10, can be positive or negative.

• Positive values of 𝑛𝑛 mean that the actual number is usually very large.
• Negative values of 𝑛𝑛 mean that the number is a small decimal. A negative value of 𝑛𝑛
does not mean that the number is negative!

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 Example: Convert 2.4 × 10−3 from standard form to ordinary form

1
10−3 = = 0.001
1000

2.4 × 10−3 = 2.4 × 0.001 = 0.0024

Calculations with Standard Form

Now that we can interpret standard form and convert both ways, we need to be able to
perform operations with numbers in standard form.

Adding and Subtracting

When adding or subtracting two numbers that are both written in standard form, there are
usually three steps:

1. First, we must convert both numbers from standard form to normal form.
2. We then perform the operation (addition or subtraction).
3. Finally, if the question asks for the answer in standard form, we convert it back.

Example: Calculate 9.8 × 103 + 6.1 × 102 .

Write the answer in standard form.

1. Convert from standard form to ordinary numbers.

9.8 × 103 = 9.8 × 1000 = 9800

6.1 × 102 = 6.1 × 100 = 610

2. Perform the operation.

9800 + 610 = 10410

3. Convert back to standard form.

10410 = 1.041 × 104

Multiplying and Dividing

Multiplying or dividing two numbers written in standard form is slightly different. We do not
convert to an actual number. Again, there are three steps:

1. Perform the operation (multiplication or division) on the base numbers (the part
written as 𝐴𝐴).
2. Perform the operation on the index 10𝑛𝑛 part.
3. Check that the final answer is still written in standard form (if the question requires it).

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 Example: Calculate (5.3 × 105 ) × (2.9 × 103 ).
Give the final answer in standard form.

1. Multiply the base numbers.

5.3 × 2.9 = 15.37

2. Multiply the 10𝑛𝑛 index parts.

When multiplying numbers with a power like this, we follow

rules of indices and add the powers together.

105 × 103 = 105+3 = 108

3. Check the answer is in standard form.

The answer we have is 15.37 × 108 .

Recall that the base number, 𝐴𝐴, must be less than 10.
Therefore, we divide the base number 15.37 by 10, and add
another power to 10𝑛𝑛 .

This gives us 𝟏𝟏. 𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓 × 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟗𝟗

Example: Calculate (4.5 × 10−4 ) ÷ (3.6 × 10−8 ).

Give the answer as an ordinary number, not in standard form.

1. Divide the base numbers.

4.5 ÷ 3.6 = 1.25

2. Divide the 10𝑛𝑛 index parts.

When dividing the same number with different powers, we

follow rules of indices and subtract the second power from
the first:
10−4 ÷ 10−8 = 10−4−−8 = 10−4+8 = 104

3. Check the answer is in the correct form.

1.25 × 104 is the answer in standard form.

However, the question asked for the answer in ordinary form:

1.25 × 104 = 1.25 × 10000 = 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏

Key points to remember when using standard form:

● The base number, 𝐴𝐴, must be greater than or equal to 1, but less than 10: 1 ≤ 𝐴𝐴 < 10
● 𝑛𝑛 refers to the power of 10 and must be an integer.
● Negative values of 𝑛𝑛 do not mean that the number is negative, just very small!

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 Standard Form - Practice Questions

1. Write 3200000 in standard form.

2. Write 0.014 in standard form.

3. Convert 1.02 × 106 from standard form to an ordinary number.

4. Convert 6.6 × 10−5 from standard form to an ordinary number.

5. Write (1.2 × 103 ) + (5.4 × 102 ) in standard form.

6. Write (4.5 × 10−1 ) − (3.9 × 10−2 ) in standard form.

7. Write (5 × 103 ) × (7 × 104 ) in standard form.

8. Write (9 × 109 ) ÷ (3 × 106 ) in standard form.

Worked solutions for the practice questions can be found amongst the worked solutions for the
corresponding worksheet file.

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