Question

An average person in the United States throws away 4.5 × 10–1 kg of trash per day. In 2013, there were about 3.2 × 106 people in the U.S.

About how many kilograms of trash was thrown away in the United States in 2013?

Answer 1

Hello,

we have to multiply the total number of people by the amount of trash that an average person throws away, then:


`Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=(4.5*10^(-1))*(3.2*10^(6)) \\ \\ We\,\,know\,\,that:\,\,\,\, x^(a)* x^(b)=x^(a+b) \,\,\,\,and\,\,\,\, (x^(a) )/(x^(b)) =x^(a-b) \\ \\ Then: \\ \\ Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=(4.5*10^(-1))*(3.2*10^(6)) \\ Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=( (45)/(10) *10^(-1))*( (32)/(10) *10^(6))\\ Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=(45*10^(-2) )*(32*10^(5))\\ Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=(45*32)*(10^(-2)*10^(5))\\ Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=1440*10^(-2+5)`

`\boxed{\\ Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=1440*10^(3)kg}`