To find the total length of the two insects, we need to add their lengths:
First insect: \( 4 \times 10^{-2} \) inches
Second insect: \( 1.3 \times 10^{-1} \) inches
To add these two values together, it's easier if we express them in the same power of 10. We can convert the first insect's length to the same power of 10 as the second:
\[ 4 \times 10^{-2} = 0.4 \times 10^{-1} \]
Now we can add the two lengths:
\[ 0.4 \times 10^{-1} + 1.3 \times 10^{-1} = (0.4 + 1.3) \times 10^{-1} = 1.7 \times 10^{-1} \]
Thus, the total length of the two insects in scientific notation is:
\[ 1.7 \times 10^{-1} \]
So, the answer is \( 1.7 \times 10^{-1} \).