The U.S. national debt was $2.9617×10^13

Question

in 2021 and $3.98×10^11
in 1971.  Find how much the debt increased in the 50-year period. (1 point)
Responses

$2.9219×1011
2.9219 dollars times 10 superscript 11 baseline

$1.0183×1024
1.0183 dollars times 10 superscript 24 baseline

$3.0015×1013
3.0015 dollars times 10 superscript 13 baseline

$2.9219×1013
2.9219 dollars times 10 superscript 13 baseline
Skip to navigation

Answer 1

To find the increase in the U.S. national debt from 1971 to 2021, we will subtract the debt in 1971 from the debt in 2021.

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

First, we need to express both amounts in the same format. The debt from 1971 can be converted to the same power of ten as the 2021 debt:

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

Now we subtract 1971's debt from 2021's debt:

\[ 2.9617 \times 10^{13} - 0.0398 \times 10^{13} \]

Aligning the terms:

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

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

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