Question

How do you multiply `(35,000)(.00046)` and write the answer in scientific notation?

Answer 1

`35,000 = 3.5 xx 10^4` and `0.00046 = 4.6xx10^(-4)`, so

`35,000xx0.00046 = 3.5xx10^4 xx 4.6xx10^(-4)`

`=3.5 xx 4.6 xx 10^4xx10^-4`

`=16.1 xx 10^(4-4) = 16.1 xx 10^0`

Because we started with 2 significant digits, we should end with 2 significant digits, so we use `16xx10^0=1.6xx10^1`