Predict the result
Rewrite eighty three million in scientific notation.
Choose a coefficient that is at least one and less than ten.

Set up the model
Place the decimal point between eight and three. The coefficient is eight point three.
The original number is ten million times this coefficient.

Work the example
Ten million is ten to the seventh power. Use the positive exponent seven.
Eighty three million equals eight point three times ten to the seventh power.

Check the result
Now write zero point zero zero zero zero zero four nine meters in scientific notation.
Find the coefficient and the exponent. Take eight seconds to think.
[Eight-second silent pause to work; the answer remains hidden.]
The coefficient is four point nine. Use ten to the negative sixth power.
The answer is four point nine times ten to the negative sixth power meters.

Interpret the result
A negative exponent divides by a power of ten.
Four point nine divided by one million equals zero point zero zero zero zero zero four nine.
For these positive examples, keep the coefficient at least one and less than ten.