Check here for instructional material to complete this problem. Write the number in standard form. \( 8.42 \times 10^{-2} \) \( 8.42 \times 10^{-2}=\square \)

To convert \( 8.42 \times 10^{-2} \) into standard form, you simply move the decimal point two places to the left because of the negative exponent. This gives you \( 0.0842 \). Voilà! You've successfully transformed scientific notation into standard form. In real-life scenarios, understanding standard form is crucial, especially in fields such as finance and scientific research. For instance, when dealing with large sums of money or tiny measurements in chemistry, converting to standard form helps make those numbers more manageable and comprehensible. Just think of all the times your bank balance or a bacterial count has dazzled you with its massive scale—standard form saves the day!