A proponent of exponents

Those numbers are exponents. They are mathematical shorthand that make it easier to handle large or small numbers. The exponent tells us how many zeroes go to the left of the decimal point.

But suppose your number is not an even million or billion? Then simply put a decimal point to the right of the first digit, count the number of remaining places, and use that as an exponent. (Hint: the result will make you sound so utterly sophisticated: "X times 10 to the something.")

Thus, the distance to the sun, 93,000,000 miles, ismiles.

Negative exponents are handy for expressing tiny numbers.
A negative exponent describes a fraction.
In other words, ,.
So instead of describing the wavelength of a neutrino as less than .0000000000000000001 meters, it's simply meters.

Like, so what??

Because, once you get the hang of them, exponents simplify hairy calculations.
If the United States has about people,
and the national debt is about $4.9-trillion ,
how much do you owe?

1.divide 4 by 2.6 = 1.54

2.subtract the exponents

3. use the results of step one with the exponent from step 2 and you've got your answer: 1.54 x 10 4--or about $15,400 per person.

Try doing that with zeroes--or Roman numerals!