How to simplify $(7.1times10^-7)(8.6times10^-5)$ in scientific notation?

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Answer 1 · 2016-01-25T02:32:42

You multiply the numbers and add the 10-powers.

$=(7.1*8.6)*(10^(-7-5))$
$=61.06*10^-12$

But we need to have only one digit in front of the decimal point:
$=(6.106*10^1)*10^-12=6.106*10^(1-12)=6.106*10^-11$

And, since the original numbers had only two significant digits, we will round this to $6.1*10^-11$

Comment : I've placed brackets where they weren't technically necessary, but they may have added to the understanding of the steps we've taken.

How to simplify (7.1times10^-7)(8.6times10^-5) (7.1times10^-7)(8.6times10^-5) in scientific notation?