Question

Everyday Math

574. The population of the United States on July 4,2010 was almost 310,000,000. Write the number in scientific notation.

Answer 1

If the population of the United States on July 4,2010 was almost 310000000 then, the number in scientific notation is
`$3.1 * 10^(8)$`.

Explanation:

- Given

Population of the United States on July 4,2010 was almost 310000000 .

- To write the number in scientific notation.

- Firstly, move the decimal point so that the first factor is greater than or equal to 1 but less than 10 .

- Then, count the number of decimal places, n, that the decimal point was moved.

- Then, write the number as a product with a power of 10.

- Finally, check the scientific notation.

Step 1 of 2

Moving the decimal point-

Move the decimal after 3 . so that 3.10000000 is between 1 and 10 .

Now, we know the decimal point was moved 8 places to the left.

Step 2 of 2

Writing the number as a product with a power of 10 -

Since, 310000000 is greater than 1 so the power of 10 will have the exponent 8 .

Therefore, the number becomes-

`$$31000000=3.1 * 10^(8)$$`

Now, checking the scientific notation-

`$$\begin{gathered}3.1 * 10^(8)=3.1 * 100000000 \\=310000000\end{gathered}$$`