How do you multiply #(4.0 x 10^-5) * (3.1 x 10^-2)#?

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Answer 1 · 2015-04-02T18:50:53

You can just multiply similars by similars, since there is only multiplication:

#(4.0 * 3.1) * (10^(-5) * 10^(-2))#

Exponents are added up if their base are the same and if they are multiplied.

#(12.4) * 10^(-7)#

Second Way

The scientific notation is just there for readability.

The expression is equivalent to this:

#4 * (1/100000) * 3.1 * 1/100#

# = 12.4/10000000 = 12.4*10^(-7)#