Question

Can someone please help me out with this problem?
4. Which is the correct simplification of 5.4x10^12 / 1.2x10^3 written in scientific notation? (1 point)
a. 4.5 × 107
b. 4.5 × 109
c. 45 × 106
d. 6.48 × 107

Answer 1

To multiply or divide two numbers in scientific notation, first you multiply or divide the mantissa portion (the number in front of \(*10^{12}\)). Then, you add (multiply) or subtract (divide) the exponents. Finally, if the absolute value of the mantissa part ended up being less than 1, or greater than 10, you repeatedly divide or multiply by 10 to make it be that way, and each time you do so, you adjust the exponent by 1 (up if you divided by 10, down if you multiplied by 10). You won't have to do that last step here, because 5.4/1.2 = a number between 1 and 10.

So, divide 5.4/1.2. Write down the answer, followed by * 10^(exp) where (exp) is the value of the numerator's exponent - the denominator's exponent.

Answer 2

So the answer would be a right?

Answer 3

@whpalmer4

Answer 4

Um, no. And it isn't d, either :-)

what are the exponents in this problem?

Answer 5

oh i forgot about the exponents:] the exponent is 9 i belive:D
@whpalmer4

Answer 6

Right, so what's your final answer?

Answer 7

b. 4.5 × 109

Answer 8

@whpalmer4

Answer 9

Correctamundo!

Answer 10

thanks @whpalmer4:] i really appreciate it;]