SOLUTION: Use scientific notation to divide the following two numbers. Express the answer using scientific notation; retain at least three decimal places. 1.83 * 10^6 / 1.2 * 10^4

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Use scientific notation to divide the following two numbers. Express the answer using scientific notation; retain at least three decimal places. 1.83 * 10^6 / 1.2 * 10^4       Log On


   

Question 373654: Use scientific notation to divide the following two numbers. Express the answer using scientific notation; retain at least three decimal places.
1.83 * 10^6 / 1.2 * 10^4
Answer by jsmallt9(3758) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
%281.83+%2A+10%5E6%29%2F%281.2+%2A+10%5E4%29
To understand how to do this, let's first "unmultiply":
%281.83%2F1.2%29%2A%2810%5E6%2F10%5E4%29
Look at the above. If you multiplied them, wouldn't you get the original fraction? Writing the expression as two separate fractions like this makes it clear what to do. For the first fraction we simply divide 1.83 by 1.2. For the second fraction we will use the rule for exponents that tells us that when dividing you subtract the exponents:
1.525+%2A+10%5E%286-4%29
or
1.525+%2A+10%5E2
which is in scientific notation. SO this is our simplified expression.