Scientific notation is a way to express very large or very small numbers in a more manageable form. It uses powers of ten to simplify calculations and make it easier to read. For example, the number 1,000,000 can be written as 1 x 10^6, while 0.0001 can be expressed as 1 x 10^-4. This notation helps scientists and mathematicians communicate complex numbers clearly. Using scientific notation is especially helpful in fields like astronomy and chemistry, where numbers can be extremely large or small. It allows for quick comparisons and calculations without dealing with many zeros. By using this method, we can better understand and work with the vast range of values in the universe.