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Exploring the Extremes: Adventures in Scientific Notation

By Platform Administrator · Submitted Sep 30, 2026

Content Area
Mathematics
Grade
8

Archimedes wanted to know how many grains of sand there were in the universe, so he researched and calculated the answer. While performing his calculations, he devised a new system of writing numbers - scientific notation. We use scientific notation to represent and calculate with very large or very small numbers, which has a variety of applications in the real world. In this task, students will emulate Archimedes, but with a twist! They will work with a partner to choose a topic with very large or very small numbers that would warrant using scientific notation. They will then write two questions about the topic, research and calculate the answer to the questions, and complete a comparative analysis of the calculations.

MA Standards

8.EE.A.3
Use numbers expressed in the form of a single digit times an integer power of 10 to estimate very large or very small quantities, and to express how many times as much one is than the other. For example, estimate the population of the United States as 3 x 108 and the population of the world as 7 x 109, and determine that the world population is more than 20 times larger.
8.EE.A.4
Perform operations with numbers expressed in scientific notation, including problems where both decimal and scientific notation are used. Use scientific notation and choose units of appropriate size for measurements of very large or very small quantities (e.g., use millimeters per year for seafloor spreading). Interpret scientific notation that has been generated by technology.

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