Question

The speed of light is 299,792.458 km/s .

Which of the following would be a reasonable estimate for the speed of light?







A.
3x10^5 km/s




B. 3x10^6 km/s





C. 3x 10^-6 km/s





D. 3x 10^-5 km/s

Answer 1

Medal & Fan!!!!!!

Answer 2

First off we are looking for a very large number not a very small one so we can eliminate 2 answers. Can you tell be what they are?

Answer 3

Maybe c and d?

Answer 4

Correct. anything to the power of a negative number will result in a decimal.

Answer 5

So that leaves a and b.

Answer 6

Generally calculators aren't allowed very often is classes unless dealing with absurdly large numbers like this.

Answer 7

So if you don't have a physical scientific calculator go to the one on your computer and when you open it up in the upper right corner there will be a button that says "view" click this then click Scientific.

Answer 8

Okay, I have it!

Answer 9

So you can either do the manual 10 * 10 a few times or you can click the very handy button that looks like an x to the power of y.

Answer 10

input a 10 click the button and then click the power of y button and input 5 for the first one.

Answer 11

hit equal and then times 3.

Answer 12

now is that a reasonable approximate for the speed of light.

Answer 13

= 15 is what it said.

Answer 14

Wait I did it again and it said 300000

Answer 15

ahhh. must have typoed.

Answer 16

ok now is 300000 a good aproxiamte for 299,792

Answer 17

almost? I'm not sure!

Answer 18

If your not sure try 3 * 10^6

Answer 19

but here is a trick for to the power of 10 questions.

Answer 20

for every single time you increase the power by 1 simply put a 0 behind it.

Answer 21

I got 3000000

Answer 22

So if 10^1 is 10. and 10^2 is 100.

Answer 23

Then 10^3 is 1000

Answer 24

It's a handy cheat and now that you have the answer tell me which is closer. 3 million. Or 300 thousand.

Answer 25

Ahh okay thanks for the tip, and I think it would be 3000000

Answer 26

No it would not be 3 million.

Answer 27

It would be 300000

Answer 28

pay attention to how many numbers you have with 299,792 and the two awnsers.

Answer 29

3000000 is 7 numbers and 300000 is 6 numbers.

Answer 30

Oh okay! sorry math is so hard for me, my worst subject thanks for the help, So the answer is A right?

Answer 31

Now I have to go but in case your wondering they are trying to trick you with this question. Just after 792 there is a decimal point.

Answer 32

so even though it is technically 10 numbers those numbers are a fraction of a 1.

Answer 33

So keep an eye on those tricky symbols.

Answer 34

Okay thanks so much for all your help!!!