How do you write the answer in scientific notation given #(9.9times10^9)/(1.5times10^8)#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-05-26T18:50:18

See a solution process below:

First, rewrite this expression as:

#(9.9/1.5) xx (10^9/10^8) => 0.16 xx (10^9/10^8)#

Now, use this rule for exponents to divide the 10s terms:

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

#0.16 xx (10^color(red)(9)/10^color(blue)(8)) = 0.16 xx 10^(color(red)(9)-color(blue)(8)) => 0.16 xx 10^1#

We now need to move the decimal point one place to the left so we need to subtract #1# from the 10s term:

#0.16 xx 10^1 => 1.6 xx 10^(1-1) => 1.6 xx 10^0#