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 express them in a common format for comparison. The numbers are:

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

We compare them by looking at the exponent first. The higher the exponent, the larger the number when the base is the same.

1. \( 2.3 \times 10^{-8} \) (exponent = -8)
2. \( 2.3 \times 10^{-10} \) (exponent = -10)
3. \( 3.2 \times 10^{-10} \) (exponent = -10; it's larger than \( 2.3 \) in front)
4. \( 2.3 \times 10^{-12} \) (exponent = -12)

Now, we can put them in order from largest to smallest:

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

So, the descending order is:

**\( 2.3 \times 10^{-8}, 3.2 \times 10^{-10}, 2.3 \times 10^{-10}, 2.3 \times 10^{-12} \)**.