Move the decimal point so the number becomes a value between 1 and 10
Count how many places the decimal point moved
Write the count as the exponent of 10
Use a positive exponent if the decimal moved to the left
Use a negative exponent if the decimal moved to the right
Write the number in the form a × 10^n
Keep only one nonzero digit to the left of the decimal point
Remove any unnecessary zeros
For numbers greater than 10, the exponent is positive
For numbers between 0 and 1, the exponent is negative