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 May 1st, 2016, 03:40 AM #1 Newbie   Joined: Apr 2016 From: England Posts: 13 Thanks: 2 Confused with answer to this standard form question... So I have an equation which I can use a calculator for, with the answer being required to be in standard form. 5.78 x 10 (to the power of -12) divided by 3.42 x 10 (to the power of - The answer i get is 1.69005848 x10 to the power of -19. So naturally I would write this in my answer box. Only to find out that the correct answer is 1.69005848 x 10 to the power of -4? I don't really get why it would suddenly be power of -4 when my calculator answer reads -19 Any help would be massively appreciated
May 1st, 2016, 04:28 AM   #2
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 Originally Posted by WarmCustard I don't really get why it would suddenly be power of -4 when my calculator answer reads -19
Looks like you haven't bracketed your two terms correctly on the calculator.

If you calculator has the capability, type it in like this,

$\displaystyle \frac{5.78 * 10^{-12}}{3.42 * 10^{-8}}$

If you can't type it like that, then make sure to use brackets correctly,

$\displaystyle (5.78 * 10^{-12}) \div (3.42 * 10^{-8})$

Last edited by Joppy; May 1st, 2016 at 04:32 AM.

 May 1st, 2016, 04:30 AM #3 Math Team   Joined: Nov 2014 From: Australia Posts: 689 Thanks: 244 Are you sure you have typed the question correctly? It looks like it should be $(5.78\times10^{-12})\div(3.42\times10^{-4})$. Your calculator uses order of operations. You've probably left out a pair of brackets. Thanks from Joppy
 May 1st, 2016, 04:51 AM #4 Newbie   Joined: Apr 2016 From: England Posts: 13 Thanks: 2 Ah yeah it looks like I was typing it out incorrectly on my calculator, eventually ended up with the correct answer. Thanks everyone Although now I can't get my head around another equation. Given that p = 4.8 x 10 to the power of 5 and q = 3.92 x 10 to the power of 7, evaluate the following correct to 3 significant figures and in standard form. 2p/q (it looks like a fraction with the q n top and the p on the bottom, but I can't type a fraction symbol) I haven't got a clue where to start... thanks for any help Last edited by WarmCustard; May 1st, 2016 at 04:54 AM.
 May 1st, 2016, 05:07 AM #5 Senior Member   Joined: Feb 2016 From: Australia Posts: 1,847 Thanks: 661 Math Focus: Yet to find out. Well, you know the values of both p and q, so you can substitute these values into the expression: 2p/q It would look like this, $\displaystyle \frac{2 * (4.8 * 10^5)}{(3.92*10^7)}$ Stick this in your calculator. P.S., In the future, create a new thread for every question you want to ask . That way other users can easily find threads.
 May 1st, 2016, 05:15 AM #6 Newbie   Joined: Apr 2016 From: England Posts: 13 Thanks: 2 Got it, thank you very very much And I will do next time no problem

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