Question

In 1987, the population of the United States was approximately `2.44 x 10^8` people. The national debt of the United States in that year was approximately `2.50 x 10^12` dollars. In scientific notation, how much debt is this per person?

Answer 1

Here's how you do it:

Explanation:

1. divide the 2.50 by 2.44 giving 1.0246 (rounding)

2. Subtract the exponent of the divisor from that of the dividend:

12 - 8 = 4

1. your answer is then `1.0246 * 10^4`

...which, moving the decimal over 4 places, tells you that the nation owed about $10,246 per person.

I believe the figure is much higher, now.