As well as very large numbers, standard form also deals with very small numbers:

4.56 x 10^-3 is 4.56 ÷ 1000 = 0.00456.

To turn a small number written in standard form into a normal number, divide the number by the power of 10:

8.45 x 10^-4

= 8.45 ÷ 10 000

= 0.000845 (note that the 8 is the 4^th digit after the decimal point

To turn a small number into standard form, identify the number that will be between 1 and 10. For example, 0.00406:

4.06 is the number between 1 and 10

it needs to be divided by 1000

therefore 4.06 x 10^-3 (note there are three decimal places to get to 4 in 0.00406)