Platelets and red blood cells are components of the blood. A typical platelet and red blood cell have diameters of approximately 2.33 × 10-6 m and 0.0000075 m, respectively. Which blood component has a bigger diameter, and approximately by how much? (1 point)

Question

A red blood cell has a bigger
• diameter than a platelet by 9.83 × 10-6 m.
A platelet has a bigger diameter than a red blood cell by 5.17 × 10-6 m.
A platelet has a bigger diameter than a red blood cell by 9.83 × 10-6 m.
A red blood cell has a bigger
• diameter than a platelet by 5.17 × 10-6 m.

Answer 1

To compare the diameters of a platelet and a red blood cell, we first have their respective diameters:

• Diameter of a platelet = \( 2.33 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} \)
• Diameter of a red blood cell = \( 0.0000075 , \text{m} = 7.5 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} \)

Now we can compare the two:

1. Convert the diameter of the red blood cell (already in scientific notation):

   • \( 7.5 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} \)

2. Compare the two diameters: \( 7.5 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} \) (red blood cell) is greater than \( 2.33 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} \) (platelet).

3. To find the difference: \[ 7.5 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} - 2.33 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} = (7.5 - 2.33) \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} = 5.17 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} \]

Thus, a red blood cell has a bigger diameter than a platelet by \( 5.17 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} \).

So the correct answer is: A red blood cell has a bigger diameter than a platelet by \( 5.17 \times 10^{-6} \) m.