Question

Add Numbers in Scientific Notation Practice
A human hair has a diameter of about 4 x 10^-8 inches

Answer 1

Sure! If you want to add numbers in scientific notation, it's important that they have the same exponent. Let's consider you might want to add the diameter of a human hair (4 x 10^-8 inches) to another number in scientific notation.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to perform addition in scientific notation:

**Step 1: Make sure the exponents are the same.**
- If they are not, you will need to adjust one of the numbers so that they match.

**Step 2: Add the coefficients.**
- Once the exponents are the same, you can simply add the coefficients.

**Step 3: Write the result in scientific notation.**
- If necessary, adjust the result so that the coefficient is between 1 and 10.

### Example
Let’s say you want to add another small length, for instance, 2 x 10^-8 inches to the diameter of the hair.

1. **Write down the numbers**:
\( 4 \times 10^{-8} + 2 \times 10^{-8} \)

2. **Since both numbers have the same exponent (-8), you can directly add the coefficients**:
\( (4 + 2) \times 10^{-8} = 6 \times 10^{-8} \)

3. **Final Result**:
The sum is \( 6 \times 10^{-8} \) inches.

Feel free to provide specific numbers or ask for more problems if needed!