In 2006, the US had a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 1.313 x 10^13. The United Kingdom had a GDP of 1.93 x 10^12. What

Question

were the combined GDPs of the US and the UK in 2006?

Incorrect Work/ Laila’s Solution Identify and Explain the error
(1.313 x 10^13) + (1.93 x 10^12)
1.313 + 1.93 = 3.243
10^13 + 10^12 = 10^25

The combined GDPs of the US and the UK in 2006 wa

Answer 1

31.243 x 10^25

Error: The error in this solution is in adding the values for the exponents. When adding numbers in scientific notation, you can only add the values of the base numbers, not the exponents. The correct way to add the GDPs in scientific notation is as follows:

(1.313 x 10^13) + (1.93 x 10^12) = 1.313 x 10^13 + 0.193 x 10^13 = 1.506 x 10^13

Therefore, the combined GDPs of the US and the UK in 2006 was 1.506 x 10^13.