Simplifying Scientific Notation: (3 x 10^9) x (2 x 10^17)
Scientific notation is a convenient way to express very large or very small numbers. Let's explore how to simplify the multiplication of (3 x 10^9) x (2 x 10^17) in scientific notation.
The Basics of Scientific Notation
Scientific notation follows the format: a x 10^b where:
- a is a number between 1 and 10 (inclusive).
- b is an integer representing the power of 10.
Multiplying Numbers in Scientific Notation
When multiplying numbers in scientific notation, we follow these steps:
- Multiply the coefficients (a values): In our case, 3 x 2 = 6.
- Add the exponents (b values): 9 + 17 = 26.
Combining the Results
Combining the results from steps 1 and 2, we get 6 x 10^26.
Therefore, the simplified form of (3 x 10^9) x (2 x 10^17) in scientific notation is 6 x 10^26.