SOLUTION: The speed of sound is 186,000 mi/sec Convert into inches per year. I'm asking because my calculator can't handle the big number. Thanks.

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Question 241374: The speed of sound is 186,000 mi/sec Convert into inches per year. I'm asking because my calculator can't handle the big number. Thanks.
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, Edwin McCravy:
Answer by Alan3354(21605) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I think that's the speed of light.
186000 mi/sec*5280 ft/mi*12 in/ft*60 sec/min*60 min/hr*24 hr/day*365 d/yr
= 3.7165E17 inch/year

Answer by Edwin McCravy(6936) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
%28186000mi%29%2F%28sec%29

We will take the miles to feet to inches,

%28186000mi%29%2F%28sec%29%27%D7%27%285280ft%29%2F%281mi%29%27%2A%27%2812in%29%2F%281ft%29


and we will take the seconds to minutes to hours to days to years

%28186000mi%29%2F%28sec%29%27%D7%27%285280ft%29%2F%281mi%29%27%2A%27%2812in%29%2F%281ft%29%27%D7%27%2860sec%29%2F%281min%29%27%D7%27%2860min%29%2F%281hr%29%27%D7%27%2824hr%29%2F%281da%29%27%D7%27%28365.25da%29%2F%281yr%29

Cancelling units which are in a numerator and a denominator:

%28186000cross%28mi%29%29%2F%28sec%29%27%D7%27%285280cross%28ft%29%29%2F%281cross%28mi%29%29%27%2A%27%2812in%29%2F%281cross%28ft%29%29%27%D7%27%2860cross%28sec%29%29%2F%281cross%28min%29%29%27%D7%27%2860cross%28min%29%29%2F%281cross%28hr%29%29%27%D7%27%2824cross%28hr%29%29%2F%281cross%28da%29%29%27%D7%27%28365.25cross%28da%29%29%2F%281yr%29

186000%2A5280%2A12%2A60%2A60%2A24%2A365.25%28in%29%2F%28yr%29

Change everything to scientific notation:

%281.86%2A10%5E5%29%285.28%2A10%5E3%29%286%2A10%5E1%29%286%2A10%5E1%29%282%2A10%5E1%29%283.6525%2A10%5E2%29%28in%29%2F%28yr%29

Group the numbers for multiplication and the exponents of 10
for addition:


%281.86%29%285.28%29%286%29%286%29%282%29%283.6525%29%2A10%5E%285%2B3%2B1%2B1%2B1%2B2%29%28in%29%2F%28yr%29

Now your calculator can make the multiplication of those numbers:

2582.673984%2A10%5E13%28in%29%2F%28yr%29

Next we change 2582.673984 to scientific notation 2.582673984%2A10%5E3

and we have:

2.582673984%2A10%5E3%2A10%5E13%28in%29%2F%28yr%29

And we add those powers of 10

2.582673984%2A10%5E16%28in%29%2F%28yr%29

With scientific notation your calculator can handle
all numbers regardless of how large.

Edwin