A strand of hair has an average mass of 2.17 × 10^-5 ounces. A grain of rice has an average mass of 0.002 ounces. How much heavier is a grain of rice than a strand of hair? Express your answer in scientific notation.

1 answer

The difference in mass between a grain of rice and a strand of hair can be found by subtracting the mass of a strand of hair from the mass of a grain of rice.

Mass of grain of rice = 0.002 ounces
Mass of strand of hair = 2.17 × 10^-5 ounces

Difference in mass = Mass of grain of rice - Mass of strand of hair

Difference in mass = 0.002 ounces - 2.17 × 10^-5 ounces

Difference in mass = 0.002 - 0.0000217

Difference in mass = 0.0019783

In scientific notation, this is written as 1.9783 × 10^-3.

Therefore, a grain of rice is 1.9783 × 10^-3 ounces heavier than a strand of hair.