Calculate the answer. How would you express it in scientific notation? (1,632) (4.0 xx 10^4)?

1 Answer
Sep 4, 2016

"1,632" × 4.0 × 10^4 = 6.5 × 10^7

Explanation:

Here are the three rules you need.

  1. All color (red)("non-zero digits") are significant.
  2. color(red)("Trailing zeroes in the decimal portion") of a number are significant.
  3. In multiplication and division, color(red)("you round the answer to have"
    color(red)("the same number of significant digits as the number with the")
    color(red)("fewest significant figures").

You used a period as a decimal separator in 4.0, so I assume you are using the comma as a thousands separator in 1,632.

"1,632" has four significant figures.

4.0 × 10^4 has two significant figures.

The answer can have only two significant figures.

"1,632" × 4.0 × 10^4 = 6.5 × 10^7