Question

An average person in the united states throws away 4.5 × 10–2 kg of trash per day. In 2013, there were about 3.2 × 10-6 people in the u.S. about how many grams of trash were thrown away in the united states in 2013?

Answer 1

Solution: We are given:

On an average, one person in United states throws away
`4.5 * 10^(2)` g/day

In 2013, the population in United states
`=3.2 * 10^(6)`

So in 2013,
`4.5 * 10^(2) * 3.2 * 10^(6)=1.44 * 10^(9)` g/day of trash was thrown away.

In 2013, the number of days = 365

Therefore, in 2013 the amount of trash thrown away is:

`1.44 * 10^(9) * 365=5.26 * 10^(11)=5.3 * 10^(11)` g