The US national debt was $2.9617 x 10 ^ 13 in 2021 and $3. 98 x 10 ^11 in 1971. Find how much the debt increased in the 50-year period.
A $1.0183 * 10 ^ 24
B $ 3.0015 * 10 ^ 13
C. $2.9219 * 10 ^ 13
D. $2.9219 * 10 ^ 11
To find the increase in the debt over the 50-year period, we need to subtract the debt in 1971 from the debt in 2021.
Debt increase = Debt in 2021 - Debt in 1971
Debt increase = $2.9617 x 10^13 - $3.98 x 10^11
First, let's convert both values to scientific notation with the same exponent:
$3.98 x 10^11 = $0.398 x 10^13
Now subtract:
Debt increase = $2.9617 x 10^13 - $0.398 x 10^13
Debt increase = ($2.9617 - $0.398) x 10^13
Debt increase = $2.5637 x 10^13
Therefore, the debt increased by $2.5637 x 10^13 in the 50-year period.
The answer is not listed among the options provided.
To find the increase in the US national debt over the 50-year period, we need to subtract the 1971 debt from the 2021 debt.
2021 debt: $2.9617 x 10^13
1971 debt: $3.98 x 10^11
To subtract these values, we need to make sure they have the same exponent. Let's convert the 1971 debt to scientific notation with the same exponent as the 2021 debt.
$3.98 x 10^11 = $0.3979 x 10^13
Now we can subtract:
$2.9617 x 10^13 - $0.3979 x 10^13 = $2.5638 x 10^13
Therefore, the US national debt increased by $2.5638 x 10^13 in the 50-year period.
The correct answer is not listed among the options provided.
To find how much the US national debt increased in the 50-year period, we need to subtract the 1971 debt from the 2021 debt.
First, let's convert the values given in scientific notation to regular numbers:
- The 2021 debt is $2.9617 x 10^13, which can be written as 29,617,000,000,000.
- The 1971 debt is $3.98 x 10^11, which can be written as 398,000,000,000.
Now, let's calculate the increase in debt:
Increase in debt = 2021 debt - 1971 debt
Increase in debt = 29,617,000,000,000 - 398,000,000,000
Increase in debt = 29,219,000,000,000
To express the answer in scientific notation, we move the decimal point until there is a single non-zero digit to the left of the decimal point:
Increase in debt = 2.9219 x 10^13
Therefore, the correct option is C. $2.9219 * 10^13.