1. Exponents in the Real World
Exponents are used in a variety of
ways, most often when talking
about very big or very small things.
2. COMPUTERS
Exponents are
often used to
describe a
computer's
memory. For
example, 1
gig(abyte) of RAM
means that you
9
have 1 x 10 bytes.
3. EARTHQUAKES
Exponents are used
to measure the
strength of earth-
quakes. A level 1
earthquake is
1
1 x 10 , a level 2
earthquake is
1 x 102, a level 3 is
1 x 103, etc.
4. LARGE DISTANCES
Exponents are used
to measure large
distances. For
example, the
distance from the
Earth to the Moon
is 1 X 105 km.
5. COUNTING LARGE NUMBERS
Exponents are used
when counting
things that grow
very quickly. For
example, the
number of bacteria
in a single sneeze
4
is between 1 x 10
and 1 x 105
