CHAPTER

Standard Form

1.1 Significant Figure

CCTS Rounding

Example
Round off the following numbers to the given number of significant figures (s.f.).
(a) 0.08143 (3 s.f.)
(b)
0.7451 (2 s.f.)

significant

these zeros are not significant

Solution:

(a) 0.0 814 3 = 0.0814 (3 s.f.)

(c) 0.00795 (2 s.f.)

+1

+1

(b) 0. 74 51 = 0.75 (2 s.f.)

(c) 0.00 79 5 = 0.0080 (2 s.f.)

1. Round off the following numbers to 1 significant figure.

(a) 0.24450
= 0.2

(b) 0.00631
= 0.006

(c) 0.55
= 0.6

(d) 0.000764
= 0.0008

(e) 0.09070
= 0.09

(f) 0.002932
= 0.003

(g) 0.00634
= 0.006

(h) 0.000895
= 0.0009

2. Round off the following numbers to 2 significant figures.

(a) 0.03593
= 0.036

(b) 0.497
= 0.50

(c) 0.00401
= 0.0040

(d) 0.01284
= 0.013

(e) 0.008007
= 0.0080

(f) 0.004044
= 0.0040

(g) 0.09961
= 0.10

(h) 0.7451
= 0.75

3. Round off the following numbers to 3 significant figures.

(a) 0.6486
= 0.649

(b) 0.005321
= 0.00532

(c) 0.0020049
= 0.00200

(d) 0.9175
= 0.918

(e) 0.2997
= 0.300

(f) 0.5096
= 0.510

(g) 0.003395
= 0.00340

(h) 0.0007998
= 0.000800

Example
Round off the following numbers to the given number of significant figures.
(a) 1.67 (1 s.f.)
(b) 86 850 (2 s.f.)
(c) 27.953 (3 s.f.)

+1

(a)

1 .67 = 2 (1 s.f.)

+1

not significant

Solution:

(b) 86 850 = 87 000 (2 s.f.)

1

+1

significant

(c) 27.9 53 = 28.0 (3 s.f.)

4. Round off the following numbers to 2 significant figures.

(a) 3.84
= 3.8

(b) 5.86
= 5.9

(c) 80.64
= 81

(d) 57.4
= 57

(e) 7 496
= 7 500

(f) 6 739
= 6 700

(g) 79 520
= 80 000

(h) 518 000

= 520 000

5. Round off the following numbers to 3 significant figures.

(a) 683.4
= 683

(b) 3 054.10
= 3 050

(c) 30 657
= 30 700

(d) 4 159
= 4 160

(e) 20.953
= 21.0

(f) 20.03
= 20.0

(g) 54.668
= 54.7

(h) 29.97
= 30.0

CCTS Interpreting

Example
Evaluate the following and give your answers according to the number of significant figures stated.
(a) (15.148 3.01) 2 + 1.54 (3 s.f.)
(b) 65.81 2 6.023 (2 s.f.)
Solution:
(a) (15.148 3.01) 2 + 1.54 = 6.069 + 1.54
= 7.609
= 7.61 (3 s.f.)

(b) 65.81 2 6.023 = 32.905 6.023

= 26.882
= 27 (2 s.f.)

6. Evaluate the following and give your answers according to the number of significant figures stated.
(a) 0.56 0.4 0.183
= 1.4 0.183
= 1.217
= 1.2 (2 s.f.)

(2 s.f.)

(d) 29.04 + 6 2.03

= 29.04 + 12.18
= 41.22
= 40 (1 s.f.)

(1 s.f.)

(b) 24.5 0.6 + 23.48

= 14.7 + 23.48
= 38.18
= 38.2 (3 s.f.)

(3 s.f.)

(e) 8 1.512 0.96 60 (3 s.f.)

= 12.096 0.016
= 12.08
= 12.1 (3 s.f.)

(c) (77.03 16.821) 5

= 60.209 5
= 12.0418
= 12.04 (4 s.f.)

(4 s.f.)

(f) 0.915 20 + 0.2 0.03 (3 s.f.)

= 0.04575 + 0.006
= 0.05175
= 0.0518 (3 s.f.)

Example

CCTS Solving problems

The following is a price list of some toys.

Car
= RM4.60
Lorry
= RM4.75
Motorbike
= RM3.45
Bicycle
= RM2.20
Bus
= RM6.10

7.

Total

10.7 km
C

k
3.8

John bought 3 cars, 2 lorries, 2 motorbikes, a bicycle and 3 buses as gifts for a childrens party.
Estimate the cost of the toys to the nearest Ringgit
Malaysia.
Solution:
3 RM4.60
2 RM4.75
2 RM3.45
1 RM2.20
3 RM6.10

Maniam travelled from town A to town D via

town B and town C. Find the total distance travelled by Maniam to the nearest km.

11.4 km
A
D

=
=
=
=
=

RM13.80
RM 9.50
RM 6.90
RM 2.20
RM18.30

The total distance travelled

= 13.8 km + 10.7 km + 11.4 km
= 35.9 km
= 36 km (to the nearest km)

RM50.70

The estimated cost of the toys is RM51.

1.2 Standard Form

CCTS Interpreting

Example
State the following numbers in standard form.
(a) 29
(b) 606
(c) 34 621
(d) 0.89
Solution:
(a) 29 = 2.9 10
= 2.9 101
(b) 606 = 6.06 100
= 6.06 102
(c) 34 621 = 3.4621 10 000
= 3.4621 104

(e) 0.00157

(d) 0.89 = 8.9

10

(f) 0.00046

(f) 0.00046

= 8.9 0.1
= 8.9 101
1.57
(e) 0.00157 =
1 000
= 1.57 0.001
= 1.57 103

4.6
=
10 000
= 4.6 0.0001
= 4.6 104

Tips for (d), (e), (f):

The number of zeros in the denominator tally with the number n
in the standard form.

Tips for (a), (b), (c):

The number of zeros tally with the
number n in the standard form.
3

1. State the following numbers in standard form.

(a) 33

(b) 817

= 3.3 101

(f) 0.91
9.1
=
10
= 9.1 0.1
= 9.1 101

(c) 6 274

= 8.17 100
= 8.17 102

= 6.274 1 000
= 6.274 103

(g) 0.0055

(h) 0.00000427

5.5
=
1 000
= 5.5 0.001
= 5.5 103

(e) 241.2

(d) 516 200

= 2.412 100
= 2.412 102

= 5.162 100 000

= 5.162 105

(i) 0.00104

4.27
=
1 000 000
= 4.27 0.000001
= 4.27 106

(j) 0.000721

1.04
=
1 000
= 1.04 0.001
= 1.04 103

7.21
=
10 000
= 7.21 0.0001
= 7.21 104

CCTS Evaluating

Example
Convert the following numbers in standard form to single numbers.
(a) 6.241 105
(b) 4.08 103
Solution:
(a) 6.241 105
= 6.241 100 000
= 624 100

(b) 4.08 103

4.08
=
1 000
= 0.00408

(c) 7.83 105

(c) 7.83 105
7.83
=
100 000
= 0.0000783

2. Convert the following numbers in standard form to single numbers.

(a) 3.677 105
= 3.677 100 000
= 367 700

(b) 6.15 103

= 6.15 0.001
6.15
=
1 000
= 0.00615

(c) 8.41 102

= 8.41 100
= 841

(d) 5.024 102

= 5.024 100
= 502.4

(e) 2.34 104

= 2.34 0.0001
2.34
=
10 000
= 0.000234

(f) 4.02 102

= 4.02 0.01
4.02
=
100
= 0.0402

(g) 7.99 103

= 7.99 1 000
= 7 990

(h) 6.36 105

SPM = 6.36 0.00001
2005
2001
6.36
=
100 000
= 0.0000636

(i) 3.322 107

= 3.322 10 000 000
= 33 220 000

CCTS Evaluating

Example
Evaluate each of the following and state the answer in standard form.
(a) 8.6 6 000
(b) 6 480 0.04
(c) 10.9 3 000 6
Solution:
(a) 8.6 6 000
= 51 600
= 5.16 10 000
= 5.16 104

(b) 6 480 0.04

= 162 000
= 1.62 100 000
= 1.62 105

(c) 10.9 3 000 6

= 5 450
= 5.450 1 000
= 5.45 103

(d) 3 090 0.003

(d) 3 090 0.003

= 1 030 000
= 1.03 106

3. Evaluate each of the following and state the answer in standard form.
(a) 8.95 2 000
=
8.95
2 000
= 4.475

1 000

(b) 350 81.3 50

= 569.1
= 5.691 100
= 5.691 102

(c) 4 500 600

= 2 700 000
= 2.7 1 000 000
= 2.7 106

(f) 950 480

= 456 000
= 4.56 100 000
= 4.56 105

(g) 4 9 300 0.5

= 74 400
= 7.44 10 000
= 7.44 104

(d) 270 0.09

30
=
0.01
= 3 000
= 3 103

1
= 4.475
1 000
= 4.475 0.001
= 4.475 103

(e) 5.25 8 000

= 42 000
= 4.2 10 000
= 4.2 104

(h) (3.5 0.7) (3.3 50)

= 5 0.066
= 0.33
= 3.3 101

CCTS Solving problems

Example
Evaluate 7.3 104 + 1.2 105 and state the answer in standard form.
Solution:
7.3 104 + 1.2 105
= 7.3 10 000 + 1.2 100 000
= 73 000 + 120 000
= 193 000
= 1.93 100 000
= 1.93 105

OR

7.3 104 + 1.2 105

= 0.73 10 104 + 1.2 105
= 0.73 105 + 1.2 105
= (0.73 + 1.2) 105
= 1.93 105

4. Evaluate each of the following in standard form.

(a) 4.7 105 + 8.3 104
= 4.7 105 + 0.83 105
= (4.7 + 0.83) 105
= 5.53 105

(b) 2.9 103 + 7.5 104

= 0.29 104 + 7.5 104
= (0.29 + 7.5) 104
= 7.79 104

(c) 9.7 105 6.8 104

= 970 000 68 000
= 902 000
= 9.02 105

(d) 8.7 105 + 6.3 104

= 0.87 104 + 6.3 104
= (0.87 + 6.3) 104
= 7.17 104

(e) 3.8 102 + 4.2 103

= 380 + 4 200
= 4 580
= 4.58 103

(f) 6 102 4 103

= 6 102 0.4 102
= (6 0.4) 102
= 5.6 102

Example
Evaluate the following and state your answers in standard form.
1.84 105
(a) 6.1 104 5 103
(b)
23 102
Solution:
1.84 105
(a) 6.1 104 5 103
(b)
4
3
23 102
= (6.1 5) 10 10
7
= (1.84 23) 105 102
= 30.5 10
1
7
= 0.08 103
= 3.05 10 10
8
= 8 102 103
= 3.05 10
= 8 101

5. Evaluate the following and state your answers in standard form.

(a) 8.3 102 5 105
= 41.5 102 105
= 41.5 103
= 4.15 101 103
= 4.15 104

(b) 5.4
106

6 000
=
5.4 106
6 103
= 0.9 106 103
= 9 101 103
= 9 102

(c) 3.8 104 600 106

= 2 280 104 106
= 2.28 103 1010
= 2.28 1013

4.8 107
(d)
4 103
= 1.2 107 103
= 1.2 104

6.

The mass of an atom of oxygen is 2.7 1023 g.

Find the total mass, in g, of 9 1018 atoms of
oxygen. State your answer in standard form.

7.

Total mass
= 2.7 1023 9 1018
= 24.3 105
= 2.43 104 g

The density of aluminium is 2.7 g cm3. Find the

volume, in cm3, of a piece of aluminium with
a mass of 50 kg. State your answer in standard
form.
Mass
Density
50 1 000
=
2.7

Volume =

= 1.85 104 cm3

8.

A factory produces 5 800 m of cable a day. Find

the total length, in metres, for 30 days of production.
Express your answer in standard form.

9.

The total length of cable

= 5 800 m 30
= 174 000 m
= 1.74 105 m

A storybook consists of 800 pages and the

thickness of the book is 1 cm. Find the thickness
of each sheet assuming that every sheet has the
same thickness.
800
800 pages has sheets
2
= 400 sheets
400 sheets  1 cm thick
1
1 sheet  cm
400
 0.0025 cm
 2.5 103 cm

11. A vacant land in the shape of a rectangle has a

length of 260 m and a width of 185 m. Calculate
the area, in m2, of the land. State your answer in
standard form.

10. The exchange rate for US$1 is RM3.45 on a

particular day. Murugan has US$25 000.
Calculate the amount that he has in Ringgit
Malaysia. Express your answer in standard
form.

The area of the land

= 260 m 185 m
= 48 100 m2
= 4.81 104 m2

The amount that he has

= 25 000 RM3.45
= RM86 250
= RM(8.625 104)

SPM Practice 1
Paper 1
1. Round off 20 723 correct to 3 significant figures.
A 20 700
C 20 723
2005
2001
B 20 720
D 21 000

12. 240 000 1.12 105 =

A 1.28 104
SPM
C 1.28 105
2006
2001
B 3.52 104
D 3.52 105

2. Round off 60 835 correct to three significant

figures.
2006
2001
A 60 800
C 60 900
B 60 805
D 61 000

13. 2.7 104 9.6 105 =

A 1.74 103
C 1.74 105
4
B 1.74 10
D 1.74 106

SPM

SPM

14. 0.0063 8 105 =

C 6.22 105
A 5.5 105
SPM
2007
2001
3
D 6.22 103
B 5.5 10

3. Round off 60 207 correct to three significant

figures.
SPM
2007
2001
A 60 000
C 60 210
B 60 200
D 60 300

15.
57

4. Express 643 000 in standard form.

C 6.43 103
A 6.43 105
2006
2001
3
D 6.43 105
B 6.43 10
8.16 107
5. =
8 000
A 1.02 1010
B 1.02 106

SPM

40

Find the area, in cm2, of the above triangle.

Express the answer in standard form.
C 1.14 107
A 1.14 105
6
B 1.14 10
D 1.14 108

C 1.02 105
D 1.02 104

6. (62 100 + 7 320) 3 =

C 2.0826 105
A 2.0826 103
4
B 2.0826 10
D 2.0826 106
7. 4
000 5 200 =
8 0.05
A 5.2 105
B 5.2 106

16. The frequency of a propeller is 3 000 revolutions

per second. Find the total number of revolutions
made in 5 minutes. Express the answer in standard
form.
A 9 104
C 9 106
5
B
9

10
D 9 107

C 5.2 107
D 5.2 108

8. 4.73 103 + 1.48 102 =

A 1.953 102
C 4.878 102
D 4.878 103
B 1.953 103

17.

9. 3.3 10 6 10 =
C 1.98 103
A 1.98 102
2
B 1.98 10
D 1.98 106
4

. 8 10
10 2 =
0.02 10
A 4 104
B 4 106

CHALK
16 pcs

CHALK
12 pcs

CODE : R 0203

CODE : R 0204

A manufacturer of colour chalks receives the

following orders.

Code

C 4 107
D 4 109

Quantity
(boxes)

R 0203

4 500

R 0204

3 500

Calculate the total number of pieces of chalk.

Express the answer in standard form.
C 1.14 105
A 1.14 104
4
B 9.6 10
D 1.28 105

11. Express 3.803 104 as a single number.

SPM
A 3 803
C 3 803 000
2007
2001
B 38 030
D 38 030 000
8

20. A rectangular floor of a community hall has

a width of 1 800 cm and a length of 2 400
SPM
2006
2001 cm. The floor will be covered with wooden
tiles. Each tile is a square of side 30 cm. The
cost of tiling is RM18 per tile. Calculate
the total cost in tiling the floor of the hall.
A RM2.64 104
B RM4.32 104
4
C RM8.64 10
D RM1.08 105

18. A water tank is leaking at a rate of 5 m3 per

second. Find the total amount, in m3, of water
leaked in one hour. Express the answer in standard
form.
C 1.8 102
A 1.8 104
B 1.8 103
D 1.8 101
19. A snail moves 0.75 cm in one second. After
6 minutes, how far, in cm, has it moved? Express
the answer in standard form.
A 2.7 102
C 2.7 103
B 4.5 102
D 4.5 103

Paper 2
1. Round off 79 610 correct to two significant
figures.

2. Round off 0.040789 correct to three significant

figures.

80 000

0.0408

3. 5.02 105 + 3.48 104 2.068 105

= 5.02 105 + 0.348 105 2.068 105
= (5.02 + 0.348 2.068) 105
= 3.3 105

4. Write 7.53 106 as a single number.

5. There are 300 000 teachers in the country. 65% are

females. Calculate the number of female teachers
and express it in standard form.

6. Evaluate 6.09 106 + 70 000 and express your

answer in standard form.

7.53 106
= 7.53 1 000 000
= 7 530 000

6.09 106 + 7 104

= 6.09 106 + 0.07 106
= (6.09 + 0.07) 106
= 6.16 106

The number of female teachers

65
= 300 000
100
= 0.65 3 105
= 1.95 105
453 105
and express your answer
1.4 104 25
in standard form.

8. The area of a rectangular plot of land is 1.8 km2.

If the width of the land is 1 200 m, find the length,
in m, of the land. State your answer in standard
form.

7. Evaluate

453 105
1.4 104 25
453 101
=
1.4 25
= 12.94 101
= 1.294 102

Length = 1.8 106 1 200

= (1.8 1.2) 106 103
= 1.5 103 m