Question

The length of a 1-inch paperclip is about 1.6 x 10−5 miles. It takes about 1.5 x 1010 paperclips linked together to reach the moon. What is the approximate distance to the moon?

A. 3.1x 10^5 miles

B. 2.4 x 10^-2 miles

C. 3.1x10^-2 miles



D. 2.4 x 10^5 miles

Answer 1

D. 2.4 x 10⁵ miles.

Explanation:

Given;

length of 1-inch paperclip, L= 1.6 x 10⁻⁵ miles

number of paperclips linked together to reach the moon, n = 1.5 x 10¹⁰

The approximate distance to the moon is calculated as follows;

distance to the moon, d = L x n

distance to the moon, d = 1.6 x 10⁻⁵ miles x 1.5 x 10¹⁰

distance to the moon, d = 2.4 x 10⁵ miles

Therefore, the approximate distance to the moon is 2.4 x 10⁵ miles.

The correct option is D.