Lesson 2: Multiplying Powers of 10

Multiplying Powers of 10

Student Summary

In this lesson, we developed a rule for multiplying powers of 10: Multiplying powers of 10 corresponds to adding the exponents together.

To see this, multiply $10^2$ and $10^3$ . We know that $10^2$ has two factors that are 10 and that $10^3$ has three factors that are 10. That means that $10^2\boldcdot10^3$ has 5 factors that are 10.

This will work for other powers of 10, too. For example, $10^{14} \boldcdot 10^{47} = 10^{(14+47)}=10^{61}$ .

Visual / Anchor Chart

Standards

Building On

5.NBT.3.a

Read, write, and compare decimals to thousandths.

Addressing

8.EE.1

Know and apply the properties of integer exponents to generate equivalent numerical expressions.

Building Toward

8.EE.1

Know and apply the properties of integer exponents to generate equivalent numerical expressions.

8.EE.3

Use numbers expressed in the form of a single digit times an integer power of 10 to estimate very large or very small quantities, and to express how many times as much one is than the other.

8.EE.4

Perform multiplication and division with numbers expressed in scientific notation, including problems where both standard decimal form and scientific notation are used. Use scientific notation and choose units of appropriate size for measurements of very large or very small quantities. Interpret scientific notation that has been generated by technology.