Question

Multiply the following and express your answer in appropriate scientific notation, and a correct number of significant figures.

(8.3 x 10⁻¹⁸) x (1.2 x 10³)
product = 9.1. 10⁻¹⁵
Example: 300 type in as 3*10², and your answer will be accepted as 3.10².

Answer 1

The product is 9.96 x 10⁻¹⁵.

Step-by-step explanation:

Here's how we can calculate the product and express it in appropriate scientific notation with the correct number of significant figures:

Step 1: Multiply the significands and exponents separately.

Significand product: 8.3 x 1.2 = 9.96

Exponent product: -18 + 3 = -15

Step 2: Determine the number of significant figures in the product.

8.3 has 2 significant figures.

1.2 has 2 significant figures.

The product should have the same number of significant figures as the least precise factor, which is 2.

Step 3: Round the product and adjust the exponent.

Rounding 9.96 to 2 significant figures gives us 9.9.

Adjusting the exponent to accommodate the rounding gives us 9.9 x 10⁻¹⁵.

Therefore, the product is 9.9 x 10⁻¹⁵ expressed in appropriate scientific notation with the correct number of significant figures.