What Are Powers of Ten?
Powers of ten are like math shortcuts!
When we write 10 with an exponent (a little number up top), it tells us how many times to multiply 10 by itself. This helps us write really big numbers (and really small ones too!) in a simple way.
How Powers of Ten Work
1️⃣ The base is always 10 (that's our special number!)
2️⃣ The exponent tells us how many times to multiply 10 by itself
3️⃣ Positive exponents make numbers bigger (10³ = 1,000)
4️⃣ Negative exponents make numbers smaller (10⁻² = 0.01)
Let's Try Some Examples!
Example 1: The Power of 10³
Example 2: What's 10⁵?
How many zeros will this number have?
Because: 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 100,000
Interactive Challenge
Try writing these powers of ten:
1. One million (1,000,000) as a power of ten: 10⁶
2. One hundredth (0.01) as a power of ten: 10⁻²
Parent Tips 🌟
- Real-world connection: Show how powers of ten are used in everyday life - like computer storage (megabytes, gigabytes) or scientific measurements.
- Zero count game: The exponent tells how many zeros come after the 1 (for positive exponents) or before the 1 (for negative exponents).
- Calculator fun: Let your child explore powers of ten on a calculator to see the patterns emerge.