scientific notation
noun
: a widely used floating-point system in which numbers are expressed as products consisting of a number between 1 and 10 multiplied by an appropriate power of 10 (as in 1.591 × 10−20)
Examples of scientific notation in a Sentence
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Filesystems almost universally use the powers of two (standard scientific notation), whereas storage device specifications are almost universally in powers of ten.
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Jim Salter, Ars Technica, 19 Sep. 2019
The c is lower-case and italicized, as per the scientific notation for quickly light can move in a vacuum.
—Laura Hudson, The Verge, 19 May 2018
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Jim Salter, Ars Technica, 19 Sep. 2019
The c is lower-case and italicized, as per the scientific notation for quickly light can move in a vacuum.
—Laura Hudson, The Verge, 19 May 2018
Cite this Entry
“Scientific notation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scientific%20notation. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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