Question

MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING IN SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

Find the product or quotient. Write your answer in scientific notation.

$(3.6\times {10}^7)÷(7.2\times {10}^7)$

Answer 1

Find quotient

$\frac{(3.6\times {10}^7)}{(7.2\times {10}^7)}$

$=\frac{3.6}{7.2}\times \frac{{10}^7}{{10}^7}$ (Dividing digits and powers simultaneously)

$=0.5\times {10}^{7-7}$ (Using exponent $\frac{{\mathrm{a}}^{\mathrm{m}}}{{\mathrm{a}}^{\mathrm{n}}}={\mathrm{a}}^{\mathrm{m}-\mathrm{n}}$)

$=0.5\times {10}^0$

$=5\times {10}^{-1}\times {10}^0$

$=5\times {10}^{-1}$

Hence, the product (in scientific notation) is $5\times {10}^{-1}$ .