Final answer:
The difference between the diameters of Mercury and Jupiter is 8.5 x 10^4 miles, calculated by expressing both diameters in the same power of ten and subtracting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking to find the difference between the diameters of Mercury and Jupiter in scientific notation. Mercury's diameter is about 3.0 x 10^3 miles, while Jupiter's diameter is about 8.8 x 10^4 miles. To find the difference, we subtract the diameter of Mercury from the diameter of Jupiter:
Jupiter's diameter - Mercury's diameter = 8.8 x 10^4 miles - 3.0 x 10^3 miles
To subtract these numbers in scientific notation, we first convert them to have the same exponent:
Jupiter's diameter - Mercury's diameter = 8.8 x 10^4 miles - 0.3 x 10^4 miles
Now we subtract the coefficients:
Difference = (8.8 - 0.3) x 10^4
Difference = 8.5 x 10^4 miles
So, the difference in diameters expressed in scientific notation is 8.5 x 10^4 miles.