How do you calculate #(2.16times10^2) / (3times10^-4)#?

3 Answers
Jun 15, 2017

It is #720,000#.

Explanation:

You can arrange your equation first:

#216/0.0003#

#=(216times10^4)/3#

#72times10^4#

or

#720,000#

This is your answer

#720,000#

Jun 15, 2017

divide the digits and then adjust the exponents

Explanation:

# 2.16/3 = 0.720#

# 0.72 = 7.20 xx 10 ^-1#

# (10^-1 xx 10^2) / 10^-4 = 10^1/10^-4 = 10^5 #

the answer is # 7.20 xx 10^5 #

Jun 15, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, rewrite this expression as:

#(2.16/3) xx (10^2/10^-4) => 0.72 xx 10^2/10^-4#

Now, use this rule of exponents to calculate the 10s terms:

#x^color(red)(a)/x^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a)-color(blue)(b))#

#0.72 xx 10^color(red)(2)/10^color(blue)(-4) => 0.72 xx 10^(color(red)(2)-color(blue)(-4)) => 0.72 xx 10^(color(red)(2)+color(blue)(4)) =>#

#0.72 xx 10^6#

To write this in proper scientific notation we need to move the decimal point 1 place to the right so we must subtract #1# from 10s exponent:

#0.72 xx 10^6 => 7.2 xx 10^5#