A skyscraper has a mass of 2.2×10⁵ tons. Another skyscraper in the same town has a mass of 3.7×10⁵ tons. What is the combined mass, in tons, of the two skyscrapers? Use scientific notation to express your answer to 1 decimal place. a) 5.9×10⁵ tons b) 5.3×10⁵ tons c) 6.6×10⁵ tons d) 6.2×10⁵ tons

Answer 1

To find the combined mass of the two skyscrapers, we first convert their masses into the same form, if necessary, and then add them together:

1. The mass of the first skyscraper is: \( 2.2 \times 10^5 \) tons.

2. The mass of the second skyscraper is: \( 3.7 \times 10^5 \) tons.

Now, we can add the two masses:

\[ 2.2 \times 10^5 + 3.7 \times 10^5 = (2.2 + 3.7) \times 10^5 \]

Calculating the sum inside the parentheses:

\[ 2.2 + 3.7 = 5.9 \]

Therefore:

\[ 2.2 \times 10^5 + 3.7 \times 10^5 = 5.9 \times 10^5 \text{ tons} \]

Expressing the answer in scientific notation to 1 decimal place, we get:

\[ 5.9 \times 10^5 \text{ tons} \]

The correct answer is a) 5.9×10⁵ tons.