Calculate the following using the correct number of significant figures.
a. (1.54 times 10^58)(3.5 times 10^60)
b. (7.9 times 10^34) / (8.32 times 10^23)
2006-09-16 09:45:44 · 3 answers · asked by youngnlovely991 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
This is chemistry? This looks like math getting you ready to do chemistry calculations.
When multiplying numbers with exponents think about this problem:
100 = 1.00 X 10^2
100 * 100 = 10000 = 1.00 X 10^4
(1.00 X 10^2) * (1.00 X 10^2) = (1.00 X 1.00) * (10^2 X 10^2)
= 1.00 X 10^4
Multiply the numbers (to the correct significant figures and add the exponents of 10.
a. (1.54 * 3.5) * (10^58 * 10^60)
= 5.39 times 10^118
(some would round this to 5.4 times 10^118)
b. (7.9 * 8.32) * (10^34 * 10^23)
= 65.728 times 10^57
(which would be rounded to 65.7 times 10^57)
Most would give the answer in "scientific notation" as
6.6 times 10^58
2006-09-16 10:22:51 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 7 · 70⤊ 0⤋
a. multiplication: the answer will have the same # of SFs as the least precise (3.5 E60) 5.4 E118 (118 retains all three digits! :-) )
b. ditto. Round to 2 SFs. (6.6 E58)
2006-09-16 17:23:41 · answer #2 · answered by Mr. E 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With multiplication and division keep the maximum significant figures. So you would have 3 for both problems.
2006-09-16 17:22:24 · answer #3 · answered by funkyourcouches 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋