def format_numbers(number, prefix=""):
    """Formats number in the scientific notation for LaTeX.

    :param number: the number to format.
    :param prefix: a prefix to add before the number (e.g. "p < ").

    :type number: str
    :type prefix: str

    :returns: a string containing the scientific notation of the number.
    :rtype: str

    """
    # Matching
    r = re.match(r"^([-+]?\d*\.\d+|\d+)e([-+]?\d+)$", number)

    # Nothing matched
    if not r:
        if prefix != "":
            return "$" + prefix + number + "$"
        else:
            return number

    # Getting the coefficient and the exponent
    coefficient = r.group(1)
    exponent = int(r.group(2))

    return "$" + prefix + coefficient + r"\times 10^{" + str(exponent) + "}$"