Question

Hey Openstudy! Mind helping me?

Given a list of numbers with different bases written in scientific notation, how would you know how to put them in order from least to greatest?


Thanks a bunch,

Answer 1

You mean like if you had, for example: 2.0 X 10^9; 2.7 X 10^8; 3.0 X 10^8; 1.9 X 10^10 ... like that?

Answer 2

@anteater Yeah Like that. If you can help me, im struggling on this

Answer 3

Sure! So you would first arrange them by exponent, and then each group with the same exponent would be arranged by the number in front. For the list I gave, that would be 2.7 X 10^8; 3.0 X 10^8; 2.0 X 10^9; 1.9 X 10^10

Answer 4

What is the list of numbers that you have?

Answer 5

The reason I ask is because I want to make sure they are truly in scientific notation.

Answer 6

@anteater There is no list of numbers, its a question for my math assignment. I wasn't sure about it and I didnt want to google it. I figured this was the best site for no "direct" answers. and you have helped me understand it!

Answer 7

Ok, good. :) I was concerned that they may have thrown in some numbers such as this:

0.3 X 10^4

Answer 8

In which case you would change that to 3.0 X 10^3 before attempting to sort

Answer 9

Okay, awesome. Im going to close this now.

Answer 10

Ok! :) Have a good day!