Question

most of the bacterium e. coli are harmless and live in your intestines, but some can cause serious food poisoning. these bacterium are 2×10^(-6) meter long. write this number in decimal notation. 2×10^(-6) = ?

Explanation:

Step1: Recall negative - exponent rule

A number in scientific notation $a\times10^{-n}$ ($1\leq a<10$, $n$ is a positive integer) can be written as a decimal by moving the decimal point $n$ places to the left. Here $a = 2$ and $n=6$.

Step2: Move the decimal point

Starting with 2.0, move the decimal point 6 places to the left. We add 5 leading zeros. So $2\times10^{-6}=0.000002$.

Answer:

$0.000002$