Platelets and red blood cells are components of the blood. A typical platelet and red blood cell have diameters of approximately 2.33×10−6 m and 0.0000075 m, respectively. Which blood component has a bigger diameter, and approximately by how much?(1 point)

Question

Responses

A red blood cell has a bigger diameter than a platelet by 5.17×10−6 m.
A red blood cell has a bigger diameter than a platelet by 5.17 times 10 superscript negative 6 baseline m.

A platelet has a bigger diameter than a red blood cell by 5.17×10−6 m.
A platelet has a bigger diameter than a red blood cell by 5.17 times 10 superscript negative 6 baseline m.

A platelet has a bigger diameter than a red blood cell by 9.83×10−6 m.
A platelet has a bigger diameter than a red blood cell by 9.83 times 10 superscript negative 6 baseline m.

A red blood cell has a bigger diameter than a platelet by 9.83×10−6 m.

Answer 1

To determine which blood component has a bigger diameter, we should compare the diameters of platelets and red blood cells.

The diameter of a platelet is approximately \(2.33 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m}\).

The diameter of a red blood cell is approximately \(0.0000075 , \text{m}\), which can be rewritten in scientific notation as: \[0.0000075 , \text{m} = 7.5 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m}.\]

Now we can compare the two diameters:

• Platelet: \(2.33 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m}\)
• Red blood cell: \(7.5 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m}\)

Clearly, \(7.5 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} > 2.33 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m}\), which means that a red blood cell has a bigger diameter than a platelet.

To find out by how much: \[ 7.5 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} - 2.33 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} = (7.5 - 2.33) \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} = 5.17 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m}. \]

Thus, a red blood cell has a bigger diameter than a platelet by approximately \(5.17 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m}\).

The correct response is: A red blood cell has a bigger diameter than a platelet by 5.17×10−6 m.