Why use standard (index) form for large numbers?
Example 1
It makes long distances easier to understand
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
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
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



