Change the decimals to whole numbers with powers. Count how many numbers are after the decimal points and express the whole number to 10 raise to the power of the negative of that number 0.5445 There are 4 numbers after the decimal points thus 5,4,4 and 5 0.5445=5445×10−4 0.09 There are two numbers after the decimal points, thus 0 and 9 0.09=9×10−2 9 goes into 5445,605 times and itself once Apply the law of indices to simplify the powers Since base 10 in each of the indices, we can apply the low of indices Thus if the bases are the same and dividing, you subtract the power of the denominator from the power of the numerator NOTE: to change the result back to decimal, you move the decimal points as many times as the negative power to the left Every whole number has a decimal point at the end. Hence 605=605.0 Since the power is negative 2(−2), we move the decimal point to the left 2 times, landing after 6