Answer:The total weight of two animals in scientific notation is 1.3 x 10⁴ lbs.
A number is written in scientific notation when a number between 1 and 10 is multiplied by a power of 10.
For example,
650,000,000 can be written in scientific notation as 6.5 ✕ 10⁸.
Given,
The approximate weights of two animals are 4.23 x 10³ lbs. and 8.7 x 10³ lbs.
Here we need to find the total weight of the two animals and we need to write the final answer in scientific notation with the correct number of significant digits.
The total weight of the two animals is calculated as
Total weight = Animal 1 + Animal 2
So,
Total weight = 4.23 x 10³ lbs + 8.7 x 10³ lbs.
Take 10³ lbs as the common term,
Then we get,
Total weight = (4.23 + 8.7) x 10³ lbs.
Total weight = 12.93 x 10³ lbs.
It can we rewritten as,
Total weight = 1.293 x 10⁴ lbs.
When we round off it, then we get,
Total weight = 1.3 x 10⁴ lbs.
Hence, the total weight of the two animals is 1.3 x 10⁴ lbs.