Question

The diameter of one red blood cell is about 2.95E-4 of an inch. It would take about 5.35E12 red blood

cells laid end to end to span the circumference of the earth.
What would be the length of this chain of red blood cells?

Answer 1

1.578 × 109 inches

Explanation:

Multiply the diameter of one red blood cell by the number of red blood cells to determine the length of the chain.

First, write both numbers in scientific notation.

Now, multiply using the product property of exponents.

Since the first term of a number written in scientific notation must be greater than 1 and less than 10, rewrite 15.78 × 109 as 1.578 × 109.

So, the length of the chain of red blood cells would be about 1.578 × 109 inches long.