Question

A rock formation in a cave grows at a rate of 9 x 10-3 centimeter per year.
How much does the rock formation grow in 50,000 years? Write your answer using scientific notation.
4.5
X
102 cm
What is a common unit for expressing the height of an object this size?
millimeters
meters
kilometers

Answer 1

Compute: (9 × 10^−3 cm/yr) × (5 × 10^4 yr) = 45 × 10^1 cm = 4.5 × 10^2 cm.

4.5 × 10^2 cm = 4.5 m, so a common unit for this height is meters.