How do you simplify #(5 × 10^8)^(–2)# in scientific notation?

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Answer 1 · 2016-07-18T21:58:59

#4 xx 10^-18#

Get rid of the brackets by using the power law of indices:

#5^-2 xx10^-16#

Get rid of the negative indices using: #" "x^-m = 1/x^m#

#1/(5^2 xx 10^16#

=#1/(25 xx 10^16)#

=#1/(2.5 xx 10 xx 10^16)#

=#1/(2.5 xx 10^17)" but "1/2.5 = 10/25 = 0.4 #

=#0.4 xx 10^-17#

=#4 xx 10^-18#