Power of Ten Puzzler

Worksheet Description

This worksheet offers a series of exercises where students must divide whole numbers by ten raised to various negative powers. Each problem presents a straightforward division task, yet it incorporates the additional complexity of ten to the power of a negative integer, which inversely scales the number. The exercises range in difficulty from simple single-digit numbers to larger numbers in the thousands. By working through these problems, students will gain practice in understanding the impact of negative exponents in division.

The purpose of the worksheet is to help students learn how to divide by powers of ten, specifically when those powers are negative. It emphasizes the concept that negative exponents represent division by the corresponding power of ten with a positive exponent. This teaches students to shift the decimal point appropriately, which is an essential skill for managing calculations in scientific notation and dealing with very large or small numbers. Ultimately, the worksheet is aimed at bolstering students’ number sense and their ability to manipulate exponents mathematically.