What do you do when you divide two numbers written in exponential notation?
When dividing two numbers written in exponential notation, you can use the following rules:
1. Divide the base numbers: Divide the numerical values of the bases.
2. Subtract the exponents: Subtract the exponent of the denominator from the exponent of the numerator.
For example, if you have (2 x 10^3) ÷ (5 x 10^2), you would perform the following steps:
1. Divide the base numbers: 2 ÷ 5 = 0.4.
2. Subtract the exponents: 10^3 - 10^2 = 10^(3-2) = 10^1 = 10.
Therefore, (2 x 10^3) ÷ (5 x 10^2) = 0.4 x 10^1 = 4 x 10^0 = 4.