The U.S. national debt was $2.9617×10^13 in 2021 and $3.98×10^11 in 1971. Find how much the debt increased in the 50-year period. (1 point)

Question

Responses

$2.9219×1011
2.9219 dollars times 10 superscript 11 baseline

$3.0015×1013
3.0015 dollars times 10 superscript 13 baseline

$2.9219×1013
2.9219 dollars times 10 superscript 13 baseline

$1.0183×1024

Answer 1

To find the increase in the U.S. national debt over the 50-year period from 1971 to 2021, you need to subtract the debt amount in 1971 from the debt amount in 2021.

1. Amount of national debt in 2021: \(2.9617 \times 10^{13}\)
2. Amount of national debt in 1971: \(3.98 \times 10^{11}\)

Now, let's convert the debt in 1971 to a common exponent (scientific notation):

\[ 3.98 \times 10^{11} = 0.0398 \times 10^{13} \]

This allows us to easily subtract the two amounts:

\[ 2.9617 \times 10^{13} - 0.0398 \times 10^{13} = (2.9617 - 0.0398) \times 10^{13} = 2.9219 \times 10^{13} \]

Therefore, the increase in the national debt over the 50-year period is

\[ \boxed{2.9219 \times 10^{13}} \]