Question

A TV show had 5.6 x 105 viewers in the first week and 4.1 x 105 viewers in the second week. Determine the average number of viewers over the two weeks and write the final answer in scientific notation.

9.7 x 1010
9.7 x 105
4.85 x 1010
4.85 x 105

Answer 1

is it D?

also:

A: 9.7 x 10^10

B: 9.7 x 10^5

C: 4.85 x 10^10

D: 4.85 x 10^5

Answer 2

Yes, that’s correct. That’s the average when you add the two numbers and divide by 2.

Answer 3

Okay. However, I know that the significant digits rule makes it look like there can only be 2 digits for my answer, and 4.85 has 3 digits.

Answer 4

Or is the significant digit rule only applied for division, multiplication, adding, and subtracting, not averaging?

Answer 5

That is true but there’s no answer choice for the correct number with correct sig figs

Answer 6

Okay. Thank you.

Answer 7

Taking the average involves adding and then dividing so you’d theoretically apply sig fig rules for each step