EXPLANATION
Given the real number 0.017.
The proper way for scientific notation is a x 10^b where a is a number or decimal number such that the absolute value of a is greater than or equal to one and less than ten or, 1 ≤ |a| < 10. b is the power of 10 required so that the scientific notation is mathematically equivalent to the original number.
Next, we would switch the decimal point to the left of the decimal point until there is just one non-zero integer.
0.017 ---> 001.7
Second, we must count how many places we moved the decimal point, in this case it's 2 places. This will be the b exponent.
As we moved the decimal two places to the right, then b is negative.
b= -2
Finally, we must write our number as ax 10^ -2
[tex]0.017=1.7x10^{-2}[/tex]