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 August 21st, 2016, 09:24 AM #1 Newbie   Joined: Aug 2016 From: woodstock Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 I need help with a scientific notation problem I need to convert the below problem into scientific notation. I get very different answers if I first solve both parentheses then divide the two separate answers than if I make the problem a fraction before solving. Can someone either tell me why this is happening or at least give me what you know to be a correct answer? Problem: (4.874*10^6)(divided by sign)(2.6*10^-3) If I solve by calculating #s inside the parentheses then dividing I get 1.87*10^1 If I solve by making the problem a fraction I get 1.87*10^11 Please help!
August 21st, 2016, 09:47 AM   #2
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 Originally Posted by henrymcg I need to convert the below problem into scientific notation. I get very different answers if I first solve both parentheses then divide the two separate answers than if I make the problem a fraction before solving. Can someone either tell me why this is happening or at least give me what you know to be a correct answer? Problem: (4.874*10^6)(divided by sign)(2.6*10^-3) If I solve by calculating #s inside the parentheses then dividing I get 1.87*10^1 If I solve by making the problem a fraction I get 1.87*10^11 Please help!
$\dfrac {4.874 \cdot 10^6}{2.6 \cdot 10^{-3}} = \dfrac{4.874}{2.6}\cdot 10^{6-(-3)} \approx 1.875\cdot 10^9$

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