How do you calculate $(7.8times10^7)/(1.0times10^4)$ ?

Question

1636 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2016-10-22T15:05:44

$7.8xx10^3$

In algebra we would simplify the following by dividing the numbers and subtracting the indices of like bases

$(color(red)(12)color(blue)( x^11))/(color(red)(4)color(blue)(x^5))" " rarr(cancel12^3 xx x^11)/(cancel4 xx x^5$

= $color(red)(3)color(blue)( xx x^6)" " (11-5=6)$

= $3x^6$

In scientific notation you do EXACTLY the same:
Divide the numbers and subtract the indices of like bases.

$(color(red)(7.8)color(blue)( xx 10^7))/(color(red)(1.0)color(blue)( xx 10^4)$

= $color(red)(7.8)color(blue)( xx 10^3)$

= $7.8xx10^3$

How do you calculate (7.8times10^7)/(1.0times10^4)(7.8times10^7)/(1.0times10^4)?