For what value of a will 8 x 10^3 be forty times larger than a x 10^2?

Answer 1

To find the value of a, we can set up the following equation:

8 x 10^3 = 40(a x 10^2)

We can simplify the equation by canceling out the common factor of 10^2 on both sides:

8 x 10^(3-2) = 40a

8 x 10^1 = 40a

80 = 40a

Now, we can divide both sides of the equation by 40 to solve for a:

80/40 = a

2 = a

Therefore, the value of a is 2.