A leak in a water tank causes the water level to decrease by 3.6×10^−2 millimeters each second.
About how many millimeters does the water level in the tank decrease in 5 hours, or 1.8×10^4 seconds?
express the answer in scientific notation.
what don't you understand about "multiply the two numbers"?
3.6×10^−2 * 1.8×10^4 = (3.6*1.8)×10^(-2+4)
...
can you not find
1.8×10^4 ÷ (3.6×10^−2) ?
hint: remember your exponent laws
go with Steve's multiplication
I picked the "wrong" special symbol, should just stick with standard keyboard keys
To find the total decrease in the water level over 1.8×10^4 seconds, we need to multiply the rate of decrease by the time in seconds.
The rate of decrease is given as 3.6×10^−2 millimeters per second.
Therefore, the total decrease can be calculated as:
Total decrease = rate of decrease x time
Total decrease = (3.6×10^−2) × (1.8×10^4)
To multiply two numbers in scientific notation, we multiply the coefficients and add the exponents:
Total decrease = (3.6 × 1.8) × (10^−2 × 10^4)
Total decrease = 6.48 × 10^2
Finally, we express the answer in scientific notation:
Total decrease = 6.48×10^2 millimeters
Therefore, the water level in the tank decreases by approximately 6.48×10^2 millimeters in 5 hours, or 1.8×10^4 seconds.