How do you express the product of #(35,000)(.00046)# in scientific notation?

1 Answer
MeneerNask
Mar 29, 2015

First you write both numbers in scientific notation

#35000=3.5*10^4#
because you have to move the decimal point 4 places to the left to leave one non-zero digit in front of the decimal point

#0.00046=4.6*10^-4#
decimal point 4 to the right to get one one-zero digit in front of the decimal point (remember: to the right means negative #10#-power)

Now you multiply the numbers and add the #10#powers:

#3.5*4.6=16.1# and #4+(-4)=0#

So the initial answer is #16.1*10^0#
But we now have two non-zero numbers before the decimal point,so:
#16.1*10^0=1.61*10^1# (move one to the left)

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