Eli5: what is “E”? I find it used in numbers that are mind bogglingly large, but I don’t know what it really means.
In: Mathematics
In that context, it sounds like cases like 6.023e23, in which case, the e is shorthand for `x10^`. So 1e3=1000, 1e6=1000000, etc. This simplifies displays on computers and calculators, especially if they cannot show numbers in smaller fonts.
It’s called scientific notation. For really large numbers, we can notate them as a number multiplied by 10 raised to whatever exponent is needed. So for instance instead of writing out 563,000,000,000,000,000 every time, we can shorten it to 5.63 × 10^17. “E” just replaces the “× 10” part. So 5.63E17.
In the context you are referring to, E just means “times 10 to the power of”
So 1,000 = 1E3 because 1 “times 10 to the power of” 3 = 1 x 10^(3) = 1 x 1,000 = 1,000.
It’s a way to condense very large/small numbers down.
I assume you mean E as used in scientific notation?
It’s shorthand. 5E+6 or 5E6 (lower case e also works) basically just means 5×10^6.
Which means “takes 10 and multiple it by itself 6 times then multiply that by 5” that 6 is basically telling you number of zeros you will have.
So that’s 5,000,000.
5×10^4 would be 50,000
As you mentioned that’s really helpful for really really big numbers. Like I can write 6×10^100 really easily, but it would take me awhile to type that out, and even longer to read it. (and I would probably screw up both of those)
As for…why we do that with “E” I’m not really sure, I’ve always assumed it was a limit with old screens that could display “5E+6” but maybe not display “2×10^6”
In calculators exponent, or power of 10 is shown by E. The mathematical meaning of the notation is already explained in the other comments.
I’m so glad I read the rest of your question, because that first part just led my mind to that Markiplier meme.
Simple answer:
E is the number of zeroes after the number
5E0 means no zero added so it’s only 5
5E1 means one zero added so it’s 50
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