The average tectonic plate moves at the rate of 0.006 m per year. How many meters would it move in 2x 10^6 years?
To find the total distance the tectonic plate would move in 2x10^6 years, we can multiply the average rate of movement by the number of years:
Total distance = average rate of movement * number of years
Total distance = 0.006 m/year * 2x10^6 years
To simplify the calculation, we can express 2x10^6 as 2 * 10^6:
Total distance = 0.006 m/year * 2 * 10^6 years
Multiplying the numbers together, we get:
Total distance = 0.006 * 2 * 10^6 m
Since 10^6 is equal to one million (1,000,000), we can rewrite the equation as:
Total distance = 0.006 * 2 * 1,000,000 m
Simplifying further, we have:
Total distance = 0.012 * 1,000,000 m
Finally, multiplying the numbers together:
Total distance = 12,000,000 m
Therefore, the tectonic plate would move 12,000,000 meters (12 million meters) in 2x10^6 years.