Question

Here are the approximate populations of three countries, expressed in scientific notation: Panama (4 x 10^6), Peru (3.2 x 10^7), Thailand (7 x 10^7).

Lin says that more than 20 times as many people live in Thailand than in Panama. Is this correct? Explain how you know.
a) Lin is correct because 7 x 10^7 is more than 20 times 4 x 10^6.
b) Lin is not correct because 7 x 10^7 is not more than 20 times 4 x 10^6.
c) Lin is correct because 7 x 10^7 is exactly 20 times 4 x 10^6.
d) Lin is not correct because the population of Panama is not given.

Answer 1

Lin's statement that Thailand has more than 20 times the population of Panama is incorrect, as multiplying the population of Panama by 20 gives a number larger than the population of Thailand. The correct answer is b.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks whether Lin's statement that there are more than 20 times as many people living in Thailand as in Panama is correct, based on the populations given in scientific notation.

To verify Lin's statement, we must compare the population of Thailand (7 x 107) to 20 times the population of Panama (20 x (4 x 106)).

• First, multiply 4 by 20 to get 80.
• Next, since the base of the exponents (10) is the same, 80 x 106 expresses the result correctly in scientific notation.
• This result is 8 x 107, which is the same as multiplying 80 by 106.

Since the population of Thailand is 7 x 107, which is less than 8 x 107, Lin's statement is incorrect. Thailand's population is not more than 20 times the population of Panama.

Therefore, the correct answer is option b: Lin is not correct because 7 x 107 is not more than 20 times 4 x 106.