MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING IN SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

To multiply or divide problems with scientific notation, we have to multiply the numerical values and simplify the exponential part separately.

Note :

The answer should be in scientific notation.

Problem 1 :

(4.3 × 108) × (2.0 × 106)

Solution :

= (4.3 × 108) × (2.0 × 106)

To simplify further, we have to make exponents same.

2.0 × 106 = 0.02 × 102 × 106

= 0.02 × 10(2 + 6)

= 0.02 × 108

= (4.3 × 108) × (0.02 × 108)

= (4.3 × 0.02) × 108

= 0.086 × 108

= 8.6 × 108-2

= 8.6 × 106

Problem 2 :

(6.0 × 103) × (1.5 × 10-2)

Solution :

= (6.0 × 103) × (1.5 × 10-2)

= (6 × 103) × (1.5 × 10-2)

= (6 × 1.5) × 103 - 2

= 9 × 101

Problem 3 :

 (1.5 × 10-2) × (8.0 × 10-1)

Solution :

= (1.5 × 10-2) × (8.0 × 10-1)

To simplify further, we have to make exponents same.

8.0 × 10-1 = 8 × 10-1 × 10-1

= 8 × 10(-1 - 1)

= 8 × 10-2

= (1.5 × 10-2) × (8 × 10-2)

= (1.5 × 8) × 10-2

= 12 × 10-2

= 1.2 × 10-2 + 1

= 1.2 × 10-1

Problem 4 :

(7.8 × 103) / (1.2 × 104)

Solution :

= (7.8 × 103) / (1.2 × 104)

To simplify further, we have to make exponents same.

7.8 × 103 = 0.78 × 101 × 103

= 0.78 × 10(1 + 3)

= 0.78 × 104

(7.8 × 103) / (1.2 × 104) = (0.78 × 104)/(1.2 × 104)

= (0.78/1.2) × 104 + 4

= 0.65 × 108

= 6.5 × 108-1

= 6.5 × 107

Problem 5 :

(8.1 × 10-2) / (9.0 × 102)

Solution :

= (8.1 × 10-2) / (9.0 × 102)

 (8.1 × 10-2) / (9.0 × 102) = (8.1 × 10-2)/(9 × 102)

= (8.1/9) × 10-2 - 2

= 0.9 × 10-4

= 9 × 10-4-1

= 9 × 10-5

Problem 6 :

(6.48 × 105) / (2.4 × 104)(1.8 × 10-2)

Solution :

= (6.48 × 105) / (2.4 × 104)(1.8 × 10-2)

= (6.48 × 105)/( 4.32 ×10 2)

= (6.48/4.32) ×105 – 2

= 1.5 ×103

Problem 7 :

A gigameter is 1.0 × 106 kilometers. How many square kilometers are in 5 square gigameters?

Solution :

One gigameter = 1.0 × 106 kilometers

Number of square kilometers in 5 gigameter = 5 x 1.0 x 106

= 5.0 x 106

Since we have six at the power, we have to move the decimal six digits to the right.

= 5000000 kilometer

Problem 8 :

The area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is about 9.6 × 103 square kilometers. The area of the Florida Reef Tract is about 16.2% of the area of the sanctuary. What is the area of the Florida Reef Tract in square kilometers?

Solution :

Area of the Florida Key National Marine Santuary = 9.6 × 103

= 9600 square kilometer

The area of the Florida Reef Tract = 16.2 % of area of sanutuary

= 16.2% of 9600

= 16.2/100 x 9600

= 16.2 x 96

= 1555.2 square kilometer

Area of Florida Reef Tract is approximately 1555 square kilometer.

Problem 9 :

There are about 1.4 × 109 cubic kilometers of water on Earth. About 2.5% of the water is fresh water. How much fresh water is on Earth?

Solution :

Quantity of water in earth = 1.4 × 109 cubic kilometers

Quantity of fresh water = 2.5% of 1.4 × 109

= 2.5/100 x 1.4 × 109

= 2.5 x 1.4 x 10-2109

= 2.5 x 1.4 x 10-2+9

= 2.5 x 1.4 x 107

= 3.5 x 107

Moving the decimal seven digits to the right,

= 35000000 cubic kilometers

Problem 10 :

An album has sold 8,780,000 copies. How many more copies does it need to sell to receive the award?

a)  1.22 × 10−7    b) 1.22 × 10−6     c) 1.22 × 10    d) 1.22 × 107

Solution :

Use a model to solve the problem. Remaining sales needed for award

= Sales required for award − Current sales total

= 10,000,000 − 8,780,000

= 1,220,000

Converting into scientific notation,

1.22 x 106

The album must sell 1.22 × 106 more copies to receive the award. So, the correct answer is c

Problem 11 :

Use a calculator to evaluate the expression. Write your answer in scientifi c notation and in standard form.

a. (1.5 × 104) + (6.3 × 104)

b. (7.2 × 105) − (2.2 × 103)

c. (4.1 × 10−3) × (4.3 × 10− 3)

d. ( 4.75 × 10− 6) × (1.34 × 107)

Solution :

a. (1.5 × 104) + (6.3 × 104)

1.5 × 104 = 15000

6.3 × 104 = 63000

= 15000 + 63000

= 78000

b. (7.2 × 105) − (2.2 × 103)

7.2 × 105 = 720000

2.2 × 103 = 2200

= 720000 - 2200

= 717800

c. (4.1 × 10−3) × (4.3 × 10− 3)

4.1 × 10−3 = 0.0041

4.3 × 10−3 = 0.0043

0.0041(0.0043)

= 0.00001763

d. (4.75 × 10− 6) × (1.34 × 107)

4.75 × 10− 6 = 0.00000475

1.34 × 107 = 13400000

= 0.00000475(13400000)

= 63.65

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