Numerical representation is about how we choose to express numbers in different formats. The choice of representation can change how easily others interpret a number and its significance.
Different representation methods include
- standard form,
- scientific notation, and
- fractional form.
From these, scientific notation stands out for precision and clarity. For instance, going back to 100 m/s, while it's seemingly easy, representing it as 100 could mean different things in terms of significant figures. In contrast, \(1.00 \times 10^2\) clarifies that all three digits - 1, 0, and 0 - count as significant figures.
By choosing this representation, we provide clear mathematical precision and avoid ambiguities related to how many figures truly carry significance.