31 billion in scientific notation is written as 3.1 × 1010.
Table of Contents
To convert 31 billion into scientific notation, you express the number as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of ten. Since 31 billion equals 31,000,000,000, you rewrite it as 3.1 times 10 to the 10th power.
Conversion Tool
Result in scientific:
Conversion Formula
The conversion formula for turning billion into scientific notation involves multiplying the number in billions by 109. Since one billion equals 1,000,000,000 (109), you take the input value and multiply it by this factor to get the full number.
Once you have the full number, you represent it as a decimal between 1 and 10 multiplied by 10 raised to the number of places the decimal point moved.
For example, 31 billion:
- 31 billion = 31 × 109 = 31,000,000,000
- Rewrite 31,000,000,000 as 3.1 × 1010 because the decimal point moves 10 places to left to get 3.1
Conversion Example
- 45 billion:
- 45 billion = 45 × 109 = 45,000,000,000
- Convert to scientific notation: 4.5 × 1010 (decimal moved 10 places)
- 12 billion:
- 12 billion = 12 × 109 = 12,000,000,000
- Scientific notation: 1.2 × 1010 (decimal moved 10 places)
- 7.5 billion:
- 7.5 billion = 7.5 × 109 = 7,500,000,000
- Scientific notation: 7.5 × 109 (decimal moved 9 places)
- 23 billion:
- 23 billion = 23 × 109 = 23,000,000,000
- Scientific notation: 2.3 × 1010 (decimal moved 10 places)
Conversion Chart
| Billion | Scientific Notation |
|---|---|
| 6.0 | 6.0 × 109 |
| 12.0 | 1.2 × 1010 |
| 18.0 | 1.8 × 1010 |
| 24.0 | 2.4 × 1010 |
| 30.0 | 3.0 × 1010 |
| 36.0 | 3.6 × 1010 |
| 42.0 | 4.2 × 1010 |
| 48.0 | 4.8 × 1010 |
| 54.0 | 5.4 × 1010 |
| 56.0 | 5.6 × 1010 |
The chart shows billion values converted to scientific notation. Read it by matching the billion value to its scientific form, which help with quick conversions and understanding scale of numbers in scientific terms.
Related Conversion Questions
- How do I write 31 billion in scientific notation accurately?
- What is the scientific notation for 31 billion dollars?
- Can 31 billion be represented as 3.1 times 10 to the 9th?
- How many zeros are in 31 billion when converted to scientific notation?
- Is 31 billion the same as 3.1 × 1010 in scientific notation?
- How to convert 31 billion into exponential form for science class?
- What conversion steps are needed to change 31 billion into scientific notation?
Conversion Definitions
Billion: Billion means a number equal to one thousand million, or 1,000,000,000. In scientific terms, it is written as 109. This large number is used in finance, population counts, and measurements to represent huge quantities.
Scientific: Scientific notation is a way of expressing numbers as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of ten. This notation makes it easier to handle very large or very small numbers in calculations and scientific work.
Conversion FAQs
Why does 31 billion convert to 3.1 × 1010 and not 3.1 × 109?
Because 31 billion equals 31 × 1,000,000,000, which is 31,000,000,000. When rewriting this in scientific notation, the decimal moves 10 places left to get 3.1, so the exponent must be 10, not 9. Using 109 would represent only a billion, less than the actual number.
How can I convert billion to scientific notation without a calculator?
You can convert by recognizing that one billion is 109. Multiply your billion value by 109 and then rewrite that number so the coefficient is between 1 and 10. Count how many places the decimal moves to determine the exponent.
What is the difference between exponential notation and scientific notation?
Exponential notation shows numbers using exponents but might not require the coefficient to be between 1 and 10. Scientific notation requires the number before the exponent to be at least 1 but less than 10, making it more standardized for scientific calculations.
Can scientific notation represent numbers smaller than one billion?
Yes, scientific notation can represent any number, large or small. Numbers smaller than one billion will have negative or smaller exponents depending on their size, but the same rules of the coefficient and base 10 power apply.
Is the conversion affected by using US billion versus UK billion?
Modern usage in both US and UK defines billion as 109. Earlier, the UK used billion to mean 1012, but now both countries agree on 109. So conversion remains consistent for contemporary figures.