For a standard form, the decimal point must be after the first non-zero digit.

It is expressed in the form a.bcd x 10ⁿ.

Where n is the number of moves of the decimal point to be after the first non-zero digit.

In order to know the value of n, you have to count how many digits you have to move the decimal point over.

When you move the decimal point to the right, the n is negated but if you have to move the decimal point to the left, the n is positive.

0.01723 = 0.⌒0⌒1.723 = 1.723 x 10^-2

A standard form should be in the form a.bcdef x 10^g

Thus the decimal must be after the first non-zero number.

The power is the number of times you have to move the decimal point so that it's positioned after the first non-zero number

If you move to the left, the power is positive and if you move to the right, the power is negative

From 1930.54 you can see that the decimal must be after 1. We have to move the current decimal point three (3) times to the left in order to position it after the 1, hence the power is positive 3

1930.54 = 1.93054 x 10³

Standard form, or standard index form, is a system of writing numbers which can be particularly useful for working with very large or very small numbers.

It is based on using powers of 10 to express how big or small a number is.

Standard form is written in the form of a x 10ⁿ, where a is a number bigger than or equal to 1 and less than 10.

n can be any positive or negative whole number.

For example 1.2 x 10³, 3.14 x 10^-5

The rules when writing a number in standard form is that first you write down a number between 1 and 10, then you write × 10(to the power of a number).

Thus the decimal point must be behind the first non-zero digit

If you move the decimal point to the left, the power (number of times of movement) of 10 will be positive and if to the right, negative

The first non-zero digit in 4382.93 is 4, hence we have to move the decimal point (.) 3 times to the left before placing it behind the 4. Since the movement is to the left, the power (3) of 10 is positive.

0.000437 = 0.⌒0⌒0⌒0⌒437 = 4.37 x 10^-4

Note: the power is - 4 because we had to move the decimal point to the right 4 times.