How can you read numbers that are written in scientific notation? Why is scientific notation important?

Answer 1

it saves having to write out a lot of zeros, reducing the chance for error (and writer's cramp)

one digit to the left of the decimal point
... the magnitude expressed as a power of ten

371 = 3.71x10^2 ... or ... 3.71E2
... E describes the exponent of ten

.00263 = 2.63x10^-3 ... or ... 2.63E-3