Montana Math MT.8.EE.4

Math8th GradeExpressions and Equations

The Standard

Perform operations with numbers expressed in scientific notation.

2026 Montana Mathematics Content Standards

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers written in scientific notation. They match powers of ten for sums and differences. They use exponent rules for products and quotients, then rewrite answers in scientific notation.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain why 2.4 × 10^5 + 3.0 × 10^4 = 2.7 × 10^5. They can multiply or divide numbers in scientific notation and rewrite 12 × 10^6 as 1.2 × 10^7.
Common Misconceptions: Students may add the exponents when adding the numbers, instead of matching the powers of ten first. They may leave an answer such as 12 × 10^6 without rewriting it.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Calculate (2.4 × 10^5) + (3.0 × 10^4) and (2.4 × 10^5)(3.0 × 10^4). Show how you handled the powers of ten.

Lesson moves

Give students coefficient and exponent cards to build 2.4 × 10^5 and 3.0 × 10^4, then rearrange the cards to add.
Ask why 3 × 10^4 + 2 × 10^3 is not 5 × 10^7, then have students write the correct sum.
Deal pairs cards marked 6 × 10^4, 3 × 10^3, and one operation sign; have them calculate and check each other’s answers.
Give Earth’s mass as 5.97 × 10^24 kg and Mars’s as 6.42 × 10^23 kg; ask for their combined mass.

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