Which one is smaller
5.8x10^-3 or 4.5x10^-3
4.5x10^-3=0.0045 (smaller)
5.8x10^-3=0.0058
To compare the values 5.8x10^-3 and 4.5x10^-3, we need to understand how scientific notation works. In scientific notation, a number is written as a decimal number multiplied by a power of 10.
To compare the two numbers, focus on the decimal part. In this case, it's 5.8 and 4.5.
Since 4.5 is smaller than 5.8, we can conclude that 4.5x10^-3 is smaller than 5.8x10^-3.
In scientific notation, the exponent only affects the magnitude (size) of the number, not the order of the values themselves. So, the number with the smaller decimal value is smaller overall.
To compare the two numbers, we can ignore the exponents for now and compare the values in front of them.
5.8 is larger than 4.5.
Since the exponent is negative in both cases, a smaller exponent indicates a larger number.
Therefore, 5.8x10^-3 is larger than 4.5x10^-3.