Mammoth Memory

Why use standard (index) form for large numbers?

Example 1          

It makes long distances easier to understand

Standard index makes understanding huge distances much easier

At the furthest point of its orbit Pluto is over 4,583,000,000 miles from the sun. This can be written in standard form as 4.583×109 miles.

 

Example 2          

It makes large numbers easier to understand

It makes large numbers easier to understand such as population

The world population is:

7.4×109 people

Or

7,400,000,000 people

Which is easier to understand?

We think 7.4×109 people.

 

Example 3          

It makes large masses easier to understand

Standard index makes mass easier to understand Quantum physics is based on standard index

The mass of the Earth is

6×1024 kg

Or

6,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000kg

Or

6 Sextillion kg

Which is easier to understand?

We think 6×1024 kg