Question

The average human heart beats about 3.5×10^6The current population of Massachusetts is about 7×10^6 people. About how many heartbeats occur in Massachusetts per year? Write the answer in scientific notation. Express the answer to the exact decimal place.(1 point)

Answer 1

To find the total number of heartbeats that occur in Massachusetts per year, we can follow these steps:

1. Identify the average number of heartbeats per person in a year.
- The average human heart beats about \( 3.5 \times 10^6 \) times per year.

2. Identify the population of Massachusetts.
- The population of Massachusetts is about \( 7 \times 10^6 \) people.

3. Calculate the total number of heartbeats in Massachusetts per year by multiplying the number of heartbeats per person by the population:
\[
\text{Total heartbeats} = (3.5 \times 10^6) \times (7 \times 10^6)
\]

4. To multiply these numbers, we can multiply the coefficients and then the powers of ten:
\[
3.5 \times 7 = 24.5
\]
\[
10^6 \times 10^6 = 10^{12}
\]
Thus,
\[
\text{Total heartbeats} = 24.5 \times 10^{12}
\]

5. We can express \( 24.5 \) in scientific notation:
- \( 24.5 = 2.45 \times 10^1 \)

6. Now, combine the two parts:
\[
\text{Total heartbeats} = 2.45 \times 10^1 \times 10^{12} = 2.45 \times 10^{13}
\]

Therefore, the total number of heartbeats that occur in Massachusetts per year, expressed in scientific notation, is:
\[
\boxed{2.45 \times 10^{13}}
\]