How do you calculate # (8.887 times 10^1) /( 9.1 times 10^-2)#?

1 Answer
Tony B
Apr 27, 2016

Scientific: #8.887/9.1xx10^3# as an exact value

Divided and rounded as scientific
#0.9766xx10^3->9.766xx10^2# to 3 decimal places

Explanation:

Given:# (8.887xx10^1)/(9.1xx10^(-2))#

Note that #10^1 = 10#

We also have #1/10^(-2)# This means that the ten is moved to the numerator giving: #1/(10^(-2))=10^2#

Write as: #(8.887xx10xx10^2)/9.1#

#8.887/9.1xx10^3#

The question does not state if the solution is required in scientific form or decimal. It is usual practice to use the same format as the question unless instructed otherwise.

I suspect that #8.887-:9.1# is an irrational number in that the decimal never stops. So a decimal solution would have to be rounded. Whereas #(8.887xx10^3)/9.1# is an exact value

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