How do you simplify #(7.2 times 10^-4)div(1.8times10^3)#?

1 Answer
Rachel
Jan 12, 2017

#4*1/10^7# or #0.0000004#

Explanation:

#(7.2*10^-4)/(1.8*10^3)# can be broken down to #7.2/1.8*10^-4/10^3#. #7.2/1.8# euqals #4#. Now we just need to deal with this awkward-looking fraction. If there is a negative exponent, that means it needs to change position, either from the numerator to the demoninator or vice versa. In this case, we need to bring #10^4# brought down, giving us #1/(10^3*10^4)#. We can simplify this is #1/0^7#.

That gives us #4*1/10^7# or #4*10^-7#. That gives us #0.0000004#.

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