Dividing numers smaller than 1

Hi guys!

This is probably a very booring question for you guys, but I'm a novice and just can't get it to work.

I want to divide a number like 4,56*10^-2 with a number like 2,5*10^-3 but it always shows an error. It's working, if I put a number like 0,0456 as the first value but as soon as the first value has a *10^-something it won't work.


Help would be much appreciated!

Try this way

Formula:

=(4.56*10^-2)/(2.5*10^-3)

Result = 18.24

Or with decimal comma

Formula:

=(4,56*10^-2)/(2,5*10^-3)

This is OK for me:
=(4.56*10^-2)/(2.5*10^-3)

I don't know if it is necessarily easier, but all you are doing is working with numbers in scientific notation. If I were doing this, I would use the computers exponential/scientific notation for the numbers. 4.56E-2/2.5E-3. If you work with numbers in scientific notation on a regular basis, you will probably want to become comfortable with using the computer's scientific notation anyway.

What's actually happening is that operations of equal precedence are performed from left to right so when it gets to this part:
…/2.5*10^-3
it divides by 2.5 (division and multiplication have equal precedence) first while you want it to multiply by 10^-3 first.
While you will get the correct answer with
=4.56*10^-2/(2.5*10^-3)
Bebo and Marcol’s equations are more clear and would make more sense to the user.
I also concur with MrShorty as to the advantage of using the E notation.