Find the sum of the two numbers and express the answer in scientific notation.

32.7 + (2.3 x 10-2)

a) 3.2723 x 10 1
b) 3.293 x 101
c) 3.5 x 10-1

32.7 + (2.3 x 10⁻²)   =  3.2723 x 10¹

Convert it to its original form:
   32.7
+  0.023
  32.723    === > 3.2723 x 10¹

It is easier to add numbers with decimal points when their decimal points are aligned. This is to avoid confusion.

Notice that the exponent has a negative sign. It means that the number is small. The first digit with the negative exponent is on the right side of the exponent. Thus, 2.3 x 10⁻² is actually 0.023, if the exponent is positive like this: 2.3 x 10² then it would be 230.

Since it is addition, the numbers after the decimal point is based on the number with the most number after the decimal point. We do not add the number places of each number, it is only applied in multiplication.