Question

The mass of Mercury is about 3.302 x 10^20 metric tons. The mass of the sun is about 1.998 x 10^27 metric tons. About how many times the mass of mercury is the mass of the sun? Give your answer in Scientific notation.

please help I really can't figure this one out.

Answer 1

6.05x10^6

Answer 2

first divide the 'first bits' ie 1.998/3.302 = 0.60509
now the exponentials : 10^27 / 10^20 = 10^(27-20) = 10^7
so this gives 0.60509 x 10^ 7
but this is not scientific notation - the first number should be between 1 and 10
so x frst bit by 10 and second bit 0 divide by 10
and this is

6.051 x 10^ 6

Answer 3

ignore 0 between bit and divide!!

Answer 4

One thing to note when you do the sciences is that significant figures apply so Jimmys answer is more accurate than Johnnys due to 4 SF / 4 SF.

Answer 5

thanks