SOLUTION: I have problems with story problems. This particular one is confusing me. The mass of the known universe is about 10 to the 23rd power solar masses, which is 10 to the 50th pow

Algebra ->  Exponents -> SOLUTION: I have problems with story problems. This particular one is confusing me. The mass of the known universe is about 10 to the 23rd power solar masses, which is 10 to the 50th pow      Log On


   

Question 801229: I have problems with story problems. This particular one is confusing me.
The mass of the known universe is about 10 to the 23rd power solar masses, which is 10 to the 50th power metric tons. How many metric tons is one solar mass?
I know that 10 to the 23rd power is 10x10 23 times and 10 to the 50th power is 10x10 50 times.
The way I'm reading this problem the answer is 10 to the 50th power.
Please send me the answer and how you solved it.
Thank You!
Samantha
Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The problem gives the mass of the known universe as
10%5E23 times the mass of the sun, and as
10%5E50 metric tons

If you are studying algebra, writing equations with x for a variable, and solving them:
x= mass of the sun in metric tons
%2810%5E23%29%2Ax= mass of the known universe in metric tons, but also
10%5E50= mass of the known universe in metric tons, so
%2810%5E23%29%2Ax=10%5E50 is your equation.
Solving:
%2810%5E23%29%2Ax=10%5E50 --> x=10%5E50%2F%2810%5E23%29 --> x=10%5E%2850-23%29 --> highlight%28x=10%5E27%29

Without algebra:
If 10%5E23 times the mass of the sun is 10%5E50 metric tons,
10%5E23 suns (all together would have a mass of 10%5E50 metric tons,
so the mass of just one sun is 10%5E50 metric tons ÷ 10%5E23, and that is
10%5E50%2F10%5E23=10%5E%2850-23%29=10%5E27