Question

There is an average of 3.5×10−2 kilograms of dissolved salt in each liter of seawater. The South China Sea contains approximately ​ 9.88×1018 ​ liters of seawater. How many kilograms of dissolved salt are in the South China Sea? Enter your answer, in scientific notation, in the boxes.

Answer 1

3.458×10¹⁷ kg

Explanation:

(3.5×10⁻² kg/L) × (9.88×10¹⁸ L) = (3.5×9.88) × 10⁽⁻²⁺¹⁸⁾ kg

... = 34.58×10¹⁶ kg

... = 3.458×10¹⁷ kg

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Comment on significant digits

It would be appropriate to round the answer to 2 significant digits, matching the number of significant digits in the least-precise factor. Then the answer would be 3.5×10¹⁷ kg.

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Comment on scientific notation problems

Your scientific calculator can show results in scientific notation.