To convert the decimal number 0.02 into scientific notation, you start by moving the decimal point to the right until you have a number between 1 and 10. In this case, moving the decimal point two places to the right gives you 2.0.
Now, because you moved the decimal to the right, you need to account for that shift by using a negative exponent. Specifically, moving the decimal point two places right corresponds to an exponent of -2.
Therefore, 0.02 in scientific notation is written as:
2.0 x 10-2
In summary, the conversion is straightforward: write the number in the range of 1 to 10 and adjust for the shift of the decimal with an appropriate exponent.