To simplify the expression \( 5 \times 10^3 - 8.9 \times 10^4 \), we need to express both terms with the same power of ten.
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Convert \( 5 \times 10^3 \) to have the same power of ten as \( 8.9 \times 10^4 \).
We can express \( 5 \times 10^3 \) as:
\[ 5 \times 10^3 = 0.5 \times 10^4 \]
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Now, our expression becomes:
\[ 0.5 \times 10^4 - 8.9 \times 10^4 \]
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Combine the two terms:
\[ (0.5 - 8.9) \times 10^4 = -8.4 \times 10^4 \]
So, the final result is:
\[ -8.4 \times 10^4 \]