Astronomers measure large distances in light-years. One light-year is the distance that light can travel in one year, or approximately 5.88 *10^12 miles. Suppose a star is 3.2 * 10^2 light-years from Earth. In scientific notation, approximately how many miles is it?
1.88 * 10^12
5.88 * 10^14****
3.2 * 10^15
1.88 x 10^15
Please tell me if I am right. Thanks
no, look below carefully
3.2*10^2 LY ( 5.88*10^12 mi/LY)
= 18.8 * 10^14 mi
= 1.88 * 10^15 mi
Good ! You are welcome.
Thank you I understand now.
thank you so much, Damon!!! this was very helpful, and i understand it now.
anyone have answerss??
To find the approximate number of miles for a star that is 3.2 * 10^2 light-years away from Earth, we can multiply the distance in light-years by the conversion factor, which is the number of miles in one light-year.
The conversion factor is given as approximately 5.88 * 10^12 miles per light-year.
To calculate the approximate number of miles, we multiply the distance in light-years by the conversion factor:
3.2 * 10^2 light-years * 5.88 * 10^12 miles per light-year
When multiplying numbers in scientific notation, we add the exponents and multiply the coefficients:
(3.2 * 5.88) * (10^2 * 10^12)
The product of the coefficients is 3.2 * 5.88 = 18.816, and the product of the exponents is 10^2 * 10^12 = 10^(2+12) = 10^14.
So the approximate number of miles is 18.816 * 10^14 miles.
In scientific notation, this is written as 5.88 * 10^14.
Therefore, the correct answer is 5.88 * 10^14 miles, which matches option B in the given choices.