Question

A biologist estimated the number of cells in a culture sample as 1.3 x 10^2. One week later, he looked at the same culture sample and estimated that the number of cells had grown to 3.9 x 10^5. Determine how many times larger the culture sample was compared to a week earlier. Express the quotient in scientific notation and find the solution in standard notation.

Answer 1

To determine how many times larger the culture sample was compared to a week earlier, divide the number of cells from the second estimate by the number of cells from the first estimate.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine how many times larger the culture sample was compared to a week earlier, we need to divide the number of cells from the second estimate by the number of cells from the first estimate.

First, let's express the numbers in scientific notation: 1.3 x 10^2 and 3.9 x 10^5.

Then, divide the second number by the first number: (3.9 x 10^5) / (1.3 x 10^2) = 3000.

So, the culture sample was 3000 times larger compared to a week earlier. In standard notation, this would be 3000.