The U.S. national debt was \$ 2.9617 * 10 ^ 13 in 2021 and \$ 3.98 * 10 ^ 11 in 1971. Find how much the debt increased in the 50-year period. (1 point)

O \$ 3.0015 * 10 ^ 13

\$ 1.0183 * 10 ^ 24

O \$ 2.9219 * 10 ^ 13

O \$ 2.9219 * 10 ^ 11

To find how much the debt increased in the 50-year period, we need to subtract the 1971 debt from the 2021 debt.

2021 debt = $2.9617 * 10^13
1971 debt = $3.98 * 10^11

Increase in debt = 2021 debt - 1971 debt
= (2.9617 * 10^13) - (3.98 * 10^11)

To subtract the values in scientific notation, we need to have the same exponent.

Converting the 1971 debt to scientific notation:
1971 debt = $398,000,000,000
= $3.98 * 10^11

Now we can subtract the values:
(2.9617 * 10^13) - (3.98 * 10^11)
= (2.9617 - 0.0398) * 10^13
= 2.9219 * 10^13

Therefore, the debt increased by $2.9219 * 10^13 in the 50-year period.

The correct answer is: O $2.9219 * 10^13

To find the increase in the U.S. national debt over a 50-year period, we need to subtract the debt in 1971 from the debt in 2021.

Debt in 2021 = \$2.9617 * 10^13
Debt in 1971 = \$3.98 * 10^11

Now we can calculate the increase in debt:

Increase in debt = Debt in 2021 - Debt in 1971
= (\$2.9617 * 10^13) - (\$3.98 * 10^11)

To subtract these numbers, we need to express them in the same exponential form:

(\$2.9617 * 10^13) = (\$2.9617 / \$1) * (10^13)
(\$3.98 * 10^11) = (\$3.98 / \$1) * (10^11)

So, the calculation becomes:

Increase in debt = (\$2.9617 / \$1) * (10^13) - (\$3.98 / \$1) * (10^11)
= \$2.9617 * 10^13 - \$3.98 * 10^11

Calculating this expression gives us:

Increase in debt = \$2.9617 * 10^13 - \$3.98 * 10^11
= \$2.9219 * 10^13

Therefore, the debt increased by \$2.9219 * 10^13 in the 50-year period.

The answer is: \$2.9219 * 10^13 (Option C)

To find the increase in the U.S. national debt over the 50-year period, we need to subtract the debt in 1971 from the debt in 2021.

Step 1: Convert the debt values to their respective decimal notation:
The U.S. national debt in 2021 is $2.9617 * 10^13.
The U.S. national debt in 1971 is $3.98 * 10^11.

Step 2: Subtract the debt in 1971 from the debt in 2021:
($2.9617 * 10^13) - ($3.98 * 10^11)

To subtract these numbers, we need to first make sure the exponents are the same. Since both numbers have an exponent of 11, we can proceed with the subtraction:

2.9617 - 0.0398 = 2.9219

The resulting number is 2.9219.

Step 3: Convert the result back to scientific notation:
2.9219 can be written as $2.9219 * 10^13.

Therefore, the increase in the U.S. national debt over the 50-year period is $2.9219 * 10^13.

The correct answer choice is "O $2.9219 * 10^13".