Question

The range of Company A's wireless access devices is 8,000 feet, and the range of Company B's devices is 1.2 x 10^4 feet. Using scientific notation, express the range of both companies' devices. Which company has the greater range?

A. 8 x 10^3 feet and 1.2 x 10^4 feet
B. 8 x 10^3 feet and 12 x 10^3 feet
C. 80 x 10^2 feet and 120 x 10^2 feet
D. 0.8 x 10^4 feet and 12 x 10^4 feet

Answer 1

Company A's range in scientific notation is 8 x 10³ feet, and Company B's range is already given in scientific notation as 1.2 x 10´ feet. Company B has the greater range.

Step-by-step explanation:

To express the ranges of Company A's and Company B's wireless access devices in scientific notation, we first convert each range into a form where there is only one non-zero digit to the left of the decimal point. Company A's range of 8,000 feet can be written as 8 x 10³ feet, where the decimal has been moved three places to the left. Company B's range, given as 1.2 x 10´ feet, is already in scientific notation. Comparing the exponents of both scientific notations, Company B has the greater range as 10´ (ten to the fourth power) is greater than 10³ (ten to the third power).