# Question #aafe7

Sep 22, 2016

$2.441 \times {10}^{10}$

#### Explanation:

This number is given to 9 significant figures.
We would not usually need to have this level of accuracy! The last few thousand in comparison to 24 billion are really of no importance.

In scientific notation, the number is given as a number with ONE digit (not zero) before the decimal point.
The size of the number is indicated by a power of 10.

The decimal comma is moved until the first digit. Count the number of places because this gives the power of 10.

$2 \textcolor{red}{4 , 414 , 062 , 500.} = 2.441 , 406 , 250 , 0 \times {10}^{\textcolor{red}{10}}$

However, $2.441 \times {10}^{10}$ would probably suffice in most situations.

Sep 22, 2016

$2.44140625 \times {10}^{10}$

#### Explanation:

$24 , 414 , 062 , 500 \textcolor{red}{. 0}$
$\textcolor{red}{\downarrow \underline{\text{ }} \uparrow}$

Slide the number right whilst keeping the decimal point where it is. Stop when you have $2 \textcolor{red}{.44140625}$

The number has moved to the right by 10 digits so the correction is $\times {10}^{10}$ giving:

$24 , 414 , 062 , 500 \textcolor{red}{. 0} \text{ " =" } 2 \textcolor{red}{.44140625} \times {10}^{10}$