(2x10%5E-2).jpeg "(3x10^8)(2x10^-2)")
Simplifying Scientific Notation: (3 x 10⁸)(2 x 10⁻²)
This article explores the simplification of the expression (3 x 10⁸)(2 x 10⁻²) using the rules of scientific notation.
Understanding Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is a convenient way to express very large or very small numbers. It follows the format:
a x 10ⁿ
where:
- a is a number between 1 and 10 (including 1)
- n is an integer representing the power of 10.
Multiplying Numbers in Scientific Notation
To multiply numbers in scientific notation, we follow these steps:
- Multiply the coefficients: In our case, we multiply 3 and 2, resulting in 6.
- Add the exponents: We add the exponents 8 and -2, which gives us 6.
Simplifying the Expression
Applying the steps outlined above to our expression (3 x 10⁸)(2 x 10⁻²), we get:
(3 x 10⁸)(2 x 10⁻²) = (3 x 2) x 10⁸⁻² = 6 x 10⁶
Final Result
Therefore, the simplified form of (3 x 10⁸)(2 x 10⁻²) is 6 x 10⁶.