Final answer:
To estimate the length of the paramecium, measure the diagonal of its rectangular shape on the graph paper in micrometers. Use the Pythagorean theorem to find the diagonal length. Convert the length from micrometers to meters using the conversion factor.
Step-by-step explanation:
To estimate the length of the paramecium, we need to refer to the given size comparisons. A typical animal cell measures approximately 10 µm across. Using the Pythagorean theorem, we can estimate the length of the paramecium by measuring the diagonal of its rectangular shape on the graph paper. Let's say the diagonal measures 5 squares. Since each square is 1 µm on the side, the length of the paramecium would be approximately 5 µm. Now, to convert this length from micrometers to meters, we can use the given conversion factor. 1 m is equal to 10^6 µm. So if we divide the length in micrometers by 10^6, we get the length in meters. In this case, 5 µm divided by 10^6 equals 5 x 10^-6 m.