Question

Plan a trip where you will start at one city, travel to a second city, travel to a third city, and then return to the original city. How far will you travel all together? Write your total distance traveled in both decimal notation and scientific notation. Show all your work so it is clear what cities you are going to and in what order

Answer 1

Let's plan a trip that starts in Chicago, travels to New York City, then to Los Angeles, and finally returns to Chicago.

Step 1: Determine Distances

1. Chicago to New York City: The driving distance is approximately 790 miles.
2. New York City to Los Angeles: The flying distance is about 2,450 miles. (For this trip calculation, we'll consider this as a direct distance since driving would involve convoluted routes).
3. Los Angeles to Chicago: The driving distance is approximately 2,000 miles.

Step 2: Calculate Total Distance

Now, we add the distances together:

• Distance from Chicago to New York City: 790 miles
• Distance from New York City to Los Angeles: 2,450 miles
• Distance from Los Angeles to Chicago: 2,000 miles

Total Distance Calculation

\[ \text{Total Distance} = 790 + 2,450 + 2,000 \] \[ \text{Total Distance} = 5,240 \text{ miles} \]

Step 3: Write in Decimal and Scientific Notation

1. Decimal Notation:

   • The total distance traveled is 5,240 miles.

2. Scientific Notation:

   • To convert to scientific notation, express 5,240 as \(5.240 \times 10^3\) miles.

Summary

• Total Distance Traveled (Decimal Notation): 5,240 miles
• Total Distance Traveled (Scientific Notation): \(5.240 \times 10^3\) miles

This trip plan includes a clear travel route from Chicago to New York City, then to Los Angeles, and back to Chicago, with all distances calculated and presented in both decimal and scientific notation.