Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is a way of expressing numbers that are too large or too small in a compact form. It is written as a product of a number (the coefficient) between 1 and 10 and a power of ten. For example, 1.6 x 10¹⁵ means 1.6 multiplied by 10 raised to the 15th power, which simplifies calculations and comparisons of very large or small values.
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Multiplication of Exponents
When multiplying numbers in scientific notation, you multiply the coefficients and add the exponents of the powers of ten. For instance, in the expression (1.6 x 10¹⁵)(4 x 10⁻¹¹), you would first multiply 1.6 by 4 to get 6.4, and then add the exponents 15 and -11 to get 4, resulting in 6.4 x 10⁴.
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Introduction to Exponent Rules
Rounding in Scientific Notation
Rounding in scientific notation involves adjusting the coefficient to a specified number of decimal places, typically one or two. This is important for maintaining precision while ensuring the number remains manageable. For example, if the result of a calculation is 6.456 x 10⁴, rounding to two decimal places would yield 6.46 x 10⁴.
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