This programed mathematics textbook is for student use in vocational education courses. It was developed as part of a programed series covering 21 mathematical competencies which were identified by university researchers through task analysis of several occupational clusters. The development of a sequential content structure was also based on these mathematics competencies. After completion of this program the student should know that a number X having an exponent n means that X is multiplied by itself n times and be able to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with numbers containing exponents, convert any number into standard scientific notation, convert a number from standard notation into standard decimal notation, and perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using scientific notation. The material is to be used by individual students under teacher supervision. Twenty-six other programed texts and an introductory volume are available as VT 006 882-VT 006 909, and VT 006 975. (EM)