Names for small numbers facts for kids
Naming very small numbers is a lot like naming very big numbers, but with one key difference. When we talk about tiny numbers, we use a minus sign with the power of 10. This helps us write numbers like 0.007 in a shorter way, called scientific notation.
For example, 0.007 can be written as 7 x 10−3. The "−3" tells us that the number 7 is three places after the decimal point. The zero before the decimal point doesn't count. If you have a number like 0.0000452, it becomes 4.52 x 10−5. This means 4.52 is multiplied by 0.00001, which is 10−5.
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What are Very Small Numbers?
Very small numbers are numbers that are less than one, like 0.1, 0.001, or even smaller. They are often used in science to describe things that are tiny, like the size of an atom or the weight of a dust particle.
How to Write Small Numbers in Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is a neat way to write very large or very small numbers without using lots of zeros. For small numbers, you move the decimal point to the right until you have a number between 1 and 10. Then, you count how many places you moved the decimal. This count becomes the negative power of 10.
For example, to write 0.00000000009 in scientific notation:
- Move the decimal point to the right until it's after the 9: 9.
- Count how many places you moved it: 11 places.
- So, 0.00000000009 becomes 9 x 10−11.
Examples of Small Numbers
Here are some more examples to help you understand:
| 0.000678 | = | 6.78 x 10−4 |
| 0.000000535645 | = | 5.35645 x 10−7 |
Names for Tiny Numbers
Just like big numbers have names like "million" or "billion," very small numbers also have special names. These names usually end with "th" to show they are a fraction of a whole.
| English Name | European Name | |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | One | One |
| 10−1 | Tenth | Tenth |
| 10−2 | Hundredth | Hundredth |
| 10−3 | Thousandth | Thousandth |
| 10−4 | Ten Thousandth | Ten Thousandth |
| 10−5 | Hundred Thousandth | Hundred Thousandth |
| 10−6 | Millionth | Millionth |
| 10−9 | Billionth | Milliardth |
| 10−12 | Trillionth | Billionth |
| 10−15 | Quadrillionth | Billiardth |
| 10−18 | Quintillionth | Trillionth |
| 10−21 | Sextillionth | Trilliardth |
| 10−24 | Septillionth | Quadrillionth |
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