How do you evaluate $(2.05times10^-8)/(4times10^-2)$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2017-04-20T16:03:12

$= 5.125 xx 10^-7$

Do not be tempted to change the numbers into decimal notation - that defeats the purpose of using scientific notation in the first place.

Consider $" "(12x^-5)/(4x^-3)$

This could be written as: $(12 x ^(-5-(-3)))/4$

Simplifying leads to: $" "3 xx x^-2 = 3/x^2$

In the same way $" "(2.05 xx 10^-8)/(4 xx 10^-2$

can be written as $" "(2.05 xx10^(-8-(-2)))/4$

$=0.5125 xx 10^-6$

Write in correct scientific notation - move the decimal place one place to the right the index will decrease.

$= 5.125 xx 10^-7$

How do you evaluate (2.05times10^-8)/(4times10^-2)(2.05times10^-8)/(4times10^-2)?