A free printable scientific notation worksheet for Grade 8 math.
By Kris Reddy, Ontario teacher · Updated October 16, 2026 · 27 questions (30 marks) · PDF + answer key
This free scientific notation worksheet helps Grade 8 students move confidently between very large numbers, very small numbers and powers of ten. It starts with converting big numbers like 480 000 000 and tiny ones like 0.000 000 312, then has students turn scientific notation back into standard form.
Next, students decide whether numbers are written correctly, compare and order values, multiply and divide using exponent rules, and solve three real-world problems about sunlight, bacteria and the planet Jupiter. Every answer in the key shows the working and was checked by computer. To print it, use the Download button above.
| Part | Skill practised | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A | Large numbers to scientific notation | 4 |
| B | Small numbers to scientific notation (negative exponents) | 4 |
| C | Scientific notation to standard form | 4 |
| D | Is it written correctly? Fix it if not | 2 |
| E | Compare and order | 4 |
| F | Multiply and divide (work boxes) | 4 |
| G | Three real-world problems | 6 |
| H | Spot the mistake | 2 |
The scientific notation worksheet supports the Ontario Grade 8 math expectation in the Number strand about representing and comparing very large and very small numbers. A key-ideas box at the top reminds students of every rule they need.
Scientific notation is a short way to write numbers that have lots of zeros. Every number is written as a coefficient times a power of ten:
a × 10n, where 1 ≤ a < 10
The coefficient must be at least 1 and less than 10. That's why 45 × 103 and 0.8 × 106 are not in scientific notation, even though they have the right value. Part D of the scientific notation worksheet asks students to catch and fix these. Scientists use this form because it makes the size of a number obvious at a glance. For more background, see scientific notation on Wikipedia.
Move the decimal point until exactly one non-zero digit sits in front of it. Count the places you moved: that count is the exponent. If you moved left (a big number), the exponent is positive. If you moved right (a number less than 1), the exponent is negative.
| Standard form | Decimal moves | Places | Scientific notation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52 000 | left | 4 | 5.2 × 104 |
| 3 090 000 000 | left | 9 | 3.09 × 109 |
| 0.003 | right | 3 | 3 × 10−3 |
| 0.000 07 | right | 5 | 7 × 10−5 |
A quick check: big numbers get positive exponents and small numbers get negative ones. Parts A and B of this scientific notation worksheet give four of each.
Reverse the steps. A positive exponent moves the decimal to the right, so 3.2 × 105 = 320 000. A negative exponent moves it to the left, so 6.1 × 10−4 = 0.000 61. Students often add the wrong number of zeros, so encourage them to count the places out loud.
When you multiply, multiply the coefficients and add the exponents. When you divide, divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents. If the new coefficient is 10 or more, shift one place and raise the exponent by 1:
(3 × 104)(5 × 106) = 15 × 1010 = 1.5 × 1011
The same rules appear in the exponent laws, so this scientific notation worksheet pairs well with a lesson on powers. Part G uses them on real data: sunlight crossing about 1.5 × 1011 m to reach Earth, and about 11 Earths fitting across Jupiter.
These questions match the scientific notation worksheet PDF, which has answer lines, a correction table and work boxes for each part.
Open each part to check the scientific notation worksheet answers. The printable key is on the last two pages of the PDF.
These are the errors that show up most often when marking this scientific notation worksheet. Part H targets two of them directly.
Next, try the Pythagorean theorem worksheet, the algebra basics quiz and the integers quiz.
Yes. The worksheet and its answer key are free to download and print as one PDF, with no account needed.
Scientific notation writes a number as a × 10ⁿ, where a is at least 1 and less than 10, and n is an integer. For example, 5 600 000 = 5.6 × 10⁶ and 0.0045 = 4.5 × 10⁻³.
The exponent is negative when the number is less than 1. The decimal point moves to the right, and each place it moves makes the exponent one smaller: 0.000 07 = 7 × 10⁻⁵.
Multiply the coefficients and add the exponents, then adjust if the coefficient is 10 or more. (3 × 10⁴)(5 × 10⁶) = 15 × 10¹⁰ = 1.5 × 10¹¹.
It is written for Grade 8 math and also works as review for Grade 9 math and science.
Ready to start? Use the Download button above to print the free scientific notation worksheet double-sided, and keep the answer key pages for marking.