Simplify the expression. Write the answer using scientific notation.

Astronomers measure large distances in light-years. One light-year is the distance that light can travel in one year, or approximately 5,880,000,000,000 miles. Suppose a star is 15.8 light-years from Earth. In scientific notation, how many miles away is it?

would this be 1.58 x 10^12 miles?

Question

Simplify the expression. Write the answer using scientific notation.

Astronomers measure large distances in light-years. One light-year is the distance that light can travel in one year, or approximately 5,880,000,000,000 miles. Suppose a star is 15.8 light-years from Earth. In scientific notation, how many miles away is it?
 

  would this be 1.58 x 10^12 miles?

anonymous · Answer

Step 1. Write 5,880,000,000,000 in scientific notation. That is 5.88 x 10 ^ 12 I think. Do you think so too?

anonymous · Answer

That's the distance it moves in one light year. To find out how many light years it moves in 15.8 years, you should multiply 5.88 x 10 ^2 x 15.8 = ???

Hope that helps.

anonymous · Answer

Oops, should have been:

5.88 x 10 ^ 12 x 15.8. I missed the one in the 10^12 by accident. Sorry.