Move the decimal point so the number is between 1 and 10
Count how many places the decimal point moved
If the original number was greater than 10, the exponent is positive
If the original number was less than 1, the exponent is negative
Write the number as a value times 10 raised to the counted exponent
Example: 4500 = 4.5 × 10^3
Example: 0.0062 = 6.2 × 10^-3