Which is the more reasonable measurement of the distance between the tracks on a CD:

1.6 • 10^–3 mm or 1.6 • 10^3 mm? Justify your answer.

Question

Which is the more reasonable measurement of the distance between the tracks on a CD:

1.6 • 10^–3 mm or 1.6 • 10^3 mm? Justify your answer.

spring98 · Answer

@mathlover2014 can you plz help me? i will medal. :)

welshfella · Answer

the distance between them is too small to be seen so its going to be a lot less than 1 mm

welshfella · Answer

are you familiar with negative exponents?

spring98 · Answer

so is it this 1.6 • 10^3

welshfella · Answer

No 10^3 = 1000 mm

welshfella · Answer

10^-3 =  1/1000 or 0.001

spring98 · Answer

1/1000right?

welshfella · Answer

No - its one of the 2 options in your questiion.
The numbers I gave were only examples.

welshfella · Answer

- to help you learn the difference between positive and negative exponents.

spring98 · Answer

ya i know but the negative on will be to small so it will be 1.6 • 10^3 mm

spring98 · Answer

@welshfella am i right?

welshfella · Answer

NO 1.6 * 10^3 = 1,600 mm  which is the same as 1.6 meters

welshfella · Answer

check my first post

spring98 · Answer

so the answer will be 1.6 • 10^–3 mm

welshfella · Answer

yes

spring98 · Answer

why?

welshfella · Answer

well have a look at a CD . Can you see the distance between  the tracks/

spring98 · Answer

yes

spring98 · Answer

@welshfella would it because the other one would be to big for the tracks of a CD?