Here's how we get that:

* Move the decimal point: Start with the decimal point at the end of the number (4,880,000,000,000.). Move it to the left until you have a number between 1 and 10 (4.88).

* Count the moves: You moved the decimal point 12 places to the left.

* Express the result: The result is 4.88 multiplied by 10 raised to the power of 12 (the number of places you moved the decimal).