1. Move the decimal point:

Move the decimal point to the right until you have a number between 1 and 10. In this case, we move it two places to the right:

0.097 → 9.7

2. Count the decimal places moved:

We moved the decimal point two places to the right.

3. Write the number in scientific notation:

* The number we obtained is 9.7

* Since we moved the decimal right, the exponent is negative.

* The exponent is the number of places we moved the decimal (2).

Therefore, 0.097 in scientific notation is 9.7 x 10^-2.