The populations of six countries are listed in this chart. Arrange the population of the six countries from least to greatest. Explain how you solved this problem.

Question

iosangel · Answer

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563blackghost · Answer

Have you tried arranging them?

iosangel · Answer

no

Mercury · Answer

the key would be to re-write them so they all have the same exponent

let's use 10^7 as an example

the first choice, Japan is already 12.718 * 10^7 so let's leave this alone
the second choice, Brazil, is 2.0 * 10^8. when we subtract 1 from the exponent we must multiply the base by 10

so 2.0 * 10^8 ----> 2.0 * 10 * 10^7 or 20 * 10^7. this allows us to compare Brazil w/ Japan

20 * 10^7 is obviously larger than 12.718 * 10^7 so Brazil has a larger population than Japan

Mercury · Answer

now, let's go to Germany

80.619 * 10^6

we want to add 1 to the exponent to get 10^7
simply multiply the base by 10 to get

(80.619/10)* 10^7 = 8.619 * 10^7 so Germany is smaller than Japan which is smaller than Brazil

repeat this process with the rest of the countries

iosangel · Answer

So would it be United kingdom 
Germany
Japan
Bangladesh
Nigeria 
Brazil?

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