Question

Shannon and Kristoph are dividing numbers written in scientific notation.

Shannon’s expression: Kristoph’s expression:

4.2x10^9/1.4x10^4 4.2x10^2/1.4x10^-3


A.Without completing the division, explain how you can determine that their answers will have the same value.

B. What is the value of their expressions written in scientific notation?

C. What is the value of their expressions written in standard form?

Answer 1

A. Same numbers in the numerator and denominator and same difference in the power for the numerator and denominator.

B. 3.0 x 10^5

C. 300,000

Explanation:

A. We can determine that the their answers will have the same value because

1. the numerator and denominator , excluding the powers of ten, are the same, and
2. the difference between the power of the numerator and the denominator is the same (5).

B. We can solve on of the equations to calculate the result:

`R=(4.2\cdot10^9)/(1.4\cdot10^4)=(4.2)/(1.4)\cdot10^(9-4)=3.0\cdot 10^5`

C. We can express this in standard forma as:

`R=3.0\cdot10^5=3.0\cdot100,000=300,000`