The area of the Southern ocean is about 7.85*10^6 square miles. The difference between the areas of the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean is about 1.865*10^7 square miles. Explain how to find the area of the Indian Ocean. Then find the area.

Question

vocaloid · Answer

first rewrite one of the two areas such that: the exponents are the same

so

7.85 * 10^6 = 0.785 * 10^7

then just subtract

1.865 - 0.785 = ?

nadiahossain · Answer

Multiply or Divide?

vocaloid · Answer

uh, no, just subtract

vocaloid · Answer

1.865 - 0.785 = ?

nadiahossain · Answer

But they are asking for the difference

nadiahossain · Answer

Why the equal sign?

vocaloid · Answer

difference means subtract

nadiahossain · Answer

Yeah I know but, 7.85 * 10^6 = 0.785 * 10^7     why is their an equal sign?

vocaloid · Answer

because the two sides are equal?

nadiahossain · Answer

And they're asking for area, don't you have to multiply?

vocaloid · Answer

you would only need to multiply if they gave you width and length, and wanted to find area

they already give you the area, so you subtract to find the difference

nadiahossain · Answer

So to find the area you need to subtract?

vocaloid · Answer

"The difference between the areas of the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean is about 1.865*10^7 square miles. "

means

Indian Ocean - Southern Ocean = 1.865*10^7, with me so far?

anonymous · Answer

But wait Vocaloid, the Indian ocean is bigger so wouldn't it be $$\large \sf Indian~ocean-Southern~ocean=1.865 \times 10^{7}$$$$\large \sf Indian~ocean=(1.865+.785) \times 10^{7}$$

anonymous · Answer

I'm too slow with latex /:

nadiahossain · Answer

So what will be the explanation for finding the area?

anonymous · Answer

Well if the difference is.785 * 10^7, then if you add that onto the smaller area, you will get the area of the larger area, which is the Indian Ocean.

nadiahossain · Answer

So to find the area you need to subtract Indian ocean and Southern Ocean...

anonymous · Answer

No no no, you have 3 values total, 2 that you know and 1 that you don't. The ones you know are the Southern Ocean's area (the small area) and the difference in area between the small and large areas (.785 * 10^7). So to find the Indian ocean's area (the large area) you will add the difference to the southern ocean's area

nadiahossain · Answer

And the area would be 1.08*10^7?

nadiahossain · Answer

wait, how did you get .785? it was 7.85

anonymous · Answer

That area of the indian ocean would be (1.865+.785) * 10^7 . We got .785 because we changed the 10^6 to 10^7 which is multiplying it by 10, so we had to divide the 7.85 by 10 as well, bringing it down to .785.

nadiahossain · Answer

so the area is 2.65*10^7 ?

anonymous · Answer

yes, that is the area of the indian ocean.

nadiahossain · Answer

oh okay, but I am sorry if I am getting you mad but can you clarify something to me a little more please

anonymous · Answer

No problem, I'm not mad (not at you at least lol). What is it?

nadiahossain · Answer

So how is it .785 because if you do this (7.85*10^6)-(1.865*10^7) and you have to add one with the 6 which will be 7 but you have to move more forward...

nadiahossain · Answer

I think I am wrong somewhere, correct me please

anonymous · Answer

Well first, it would be a + between the parentheses. Second, when we had 7.85 * 10^6, we changed the numbers on both sides, by multiplying 10^6 by 10 and dividing 7.85 by 10. This changed it to .785 * 10^7 but it kept the ratio the same. Once we had both sides with 10^7 as a constant, we could just add 1.865 and .785, which would be multiplied by the constant 10^7.

anonymous · Answer

I hope that explained it well enough cause I gtg. have a good night/day/evening etc.

nadiahossain · Answer

Okay thanks for the help

anonymous · Answer

ye no problem (: