The use of electricity in the US in 1902 was 6.03 x 10^9 kilowatt-hours. The use of electricity in the US in 1950 was 4.3 x 10^11 kilowatt-hours. What was the total kilowatt-hours of electricity used during these two years?
To find the total kilowatt-hours of electricity used during the two years (1902 and 1950), you need to add the kilowatt-hours used in each year.
Given:
Electricity use in 1902 = 6.03 x 10^9 kilowatt-hours
Electricity use in 1950 = 4.3 x 10^11 kilowatt-hours
To add these two numbers in scientific notation, we need to make sure they have the same exponent.
Step 1: Rewrite each number with the same exponent.
6.03 x 10^9 kilowatt-hours = 6.03 x 10^9 x 10^2 x 10^-2 = 6.03 x 10^11 x 10^-2
= 6.03 x 10^11 x 10^-2 = 6.03 x 10^9 x 10^2 x 10^-2 = 6.03 x 10^9 x 10^0
Step 2: Perform the addition of the two numbers.
6.03 x 10^9 x 10^0 + 4.3 x 10^11 kilowatt-hours = (6.03 x 10^9) + (4.3 x 10^11)
= (6.03 + 4.3) x 10^9 + 11 kilowatt-hours
= 10.33 x 10^9 + 11 kilowatt-hours
Step 3: Multiply the coefficient by 10 raised to the sum of the exponents.
= 10.33 x 10^(9+11) kilowatt-hours
= 10.33 x 10^20 kilowatt-hours
Therefore, the total kilowatt-hours of electricity used during these two years is 10.33 x 10^20 kilowatt-hours.