The amounts of food waste generated in a region during two years were 37,500,000 tons and 30,400,000 tons. What was the total food waste generated over these two years in the region, expressed in scientific notation?

Answer 1

To find the total food waste generated over the two years, we need to add the amounts of food waste from both years:

\[ 37,500,000 \text{ tons} + 30,400,000 \text{ tons} = 67,900,000 \text{ tons} \]

Next, we convert this total into scientific notation. The number \( 67,900,000 \) can be expressed in scientific notation as follows:

1. Move the decimal point 7 places to the left, turning \( 67,900,000 \) into \( 6.79 \).
2. Since we moved the decimal point 7 places, we multiply by \( 10^7 \).

Thus, the total food waste expressed in scientific notation is:

\[ 6.79 \times 10^7 \text{ tons} \]