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| Question 992047:  Which pair of numbers is closer together? 10^10 and 10^50 , or the pair 10^100 and 10^101?
 I know 10^100 and 10^101 are much much further apart due to the exponent operating on a much larger scale, but I don't know how to prove this is mathematical notation. My calculator gives maths error for 10^101-10^100, so ideally I would like some algebraic way of proving the solution that doesn't simply rely on typing the numbers in.
 Thanks.
 Answer by stanbon(75887)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Which pair of numbers is closer together? 10^10 and 10^50 , or the pair 10^100 and 10^101? I know 10^100 and 10^101 are much much further apart due to the exponent operating on a much larger scale, but I don't know how to prove this is mathematical notation. My calculator gives maths error for 10^101-10^100, so ideally I would like some algebraic way of proving the solution that doesn't simply rely on typing the numbers in.
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 10^50-10^10 = 10^10[10^40-1]
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 10^101-10^100 = 10^100[10-1] = 10^10[10^90]*9
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 Since 10^90*9 > 10^40-1, 10^101-10^100 is a greater difference.
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 Cheers,
 Stan H.
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