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)

A red blood cell has a bigger diameter than a platelet by 9.83 * 10 ^ - 6 m

A platelet has a bigger diameter than a red blood cell by 9.83 * 10 ^ - 6 m.

O A red blood cell has a bigger diameter than a platelet by 5.17 * 10 ^ - 6 m.

A platelet has a bigger diameter than a red blood cell by 5.17 * 10 ^ - 6 m.

1 answer

To determine which blood component has a bigger diameter, we will first compare the diameters of a platelet and a red blood cell using the given values.

  • Diameter of a platelet: \(2.33 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m}\)
  • Diameter of a red blood cell: \(7.5 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m}\)

Now, let's compare the two diameters:

  1. Convert the red blood cell diameter into scientific notation:

    • The diameter of a red blood cell is already in scientific notation as \(7.5 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m}\).
  2. Compare the two:

    • We can see that \(7.5 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m}\) (red blood cell) is greater than \(2.33 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m}\) (platelet).

Now, let's calculate approximately by how much the red blood cell is larger than the platelet:

\[ \text{Difference} = \text{Diameter of red blood cell} - \text{Diameter of platelet} \]

\[ \text{Difference} = 7.5 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} - 2.33 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} \]

\[ \text{Difference} = (7.5 - 2.33) \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} = 5.17 \times 10^{-6} , \text{m} \]

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

The correct answer is:

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