Question

The approximate average distances from the sun to Mars and Mercury are listed below:
Mars: 2, point, 2, 8, times, 10, to the power 82.28×10
8
kilometers
Mercury: 5, point, 7, 9, times, 10, to the power 75.79×10
7
kilometers
How much farther from the sun is Mars than Mercury? Express your answer using either standard notation or scientific notation.

Answer 1

Interpreting the distances as Mars = 2.28 × 10^8 km and Mercury = 5.79 × 10^7 km:

2.28×10^8 − 5.79×10^7
= 2.28×10^8 − 0.579×10^8
= (2.28 − 0.579)×10^8
= 1.701×10^8 km

So Mars is 1.701×10^8 km farther from the Sun than Mercury (170,100,000 km).