Question

Place the numbers in descending order. 2.3 × 10−10 ; 3.2 × 10−10 ; 2.3 × 10−12 ; 2.3 × 10−8

Answer 1

To place the numbers in descending order, we first need to evaluate each of the numbers:

1. \(2.3 \times 10^{-10}\)
2. \(3.2 \times 10^{-10}\)
3. \(2.3 \times 10^{-12}\)
4. \(2.3 \times 10^{-8}\)

Now let's express them with the same power of ten for easier comparison. We'll use \(10^{-10}\) as the common power:

1. \(2.3 \times 10^{-10} = 2.3 \times 10^{-10}\)
2. \(3.2 \times 10^{-10} = 3.2 \times 10^{-10}\)
3. \(2.3 \times 10^{-12} = 0.023 \times 10^{-10}\) (which is \(2.3 \times 10^{-12} = 2.3 \times (10^{-12})/1 = 2.3 \times 10^{-2} \times 10^{-10} = 0.023 \times 10^{-10}\))
4. \(2.3 \times 10^{-8} = 230 \times 10^{-10}\)

Now we can compare:

- \(3.2 \times 10^{-10}\) (equals \(3.2\))
- \(2.3 \times 10^{-10}\) (equals \(2.3\))
- \(0.023 \times 10^{-10}\) (equals \(0.023\))
- \(230 \times 10^{-10}\) (equals \(230\))

So, in descending order:

1. \(2.3 \times 10^{-8}\)
2. \(3.2 \times 10^{-10}\)
3. \(2.3 \times 10^{-10}\)
4. \(2.3 \times 10^{-12}\)

Thus, the final order is:
**\(2.3 \times 10^{-8}; 3.2 \times 10^{-10}; 2.3 \times 10^{-10}; 2.3 \times 10^{-12}\)**.