The surface area of the Pacific Ocean is 166000000000000m². Write this quantity in scientific notation. To write the amount in scientific notation move the decimal point to after the first digit to produce a factor that is between 1 and 10. Then calculate the number of places you moved the decimal point this number is the exponent (n). Delete the additional zeros at the end of the first factor and multiply the result by 10n. When the decimal point shifts to the left n is positive. When the decimal point shifts to the right n is negative. In this problem the decimal point shifts 14 places to the left thus the quantity is written as 1.66 * 10¹⁴ in scientific notation.

Adding as well as subtracting using scientific notation To add or subtract quantities written in scientific notation the quantities must have the same exponent. For example, 4.5 * 10¹⁴ m+ 2.1 * 10¹⁴ m * 6.6 * 10¹⁴ m. If two quantities are articulated to different powers of ten you must change one of the quantities so that they are both expressed to the same power of ten before you add or subtract them.