To calculate how many meters a tectonic plate would move in \( 2 \times 10^6 \) years at a rate of \( 0.006 \) m per year, you can use the formula:
\[ \text{Distance} = \text{Rate} \times \text{Time} \]
Substituting in the given values:
\[ \text{Distance} = 0.006 , \text{m/year} \times (2 \times 10^6 , \text{years}) \]
Now, calculate the multiplication:
\[ = 0.006 \times 2 \times 10^6 \] \[ = 0.012 \times 10^6 \]
Next, convert \( 0.012 \) into scientific notation:
\[ 0.012 = 1.2 \times 10^{-2} \]
Now substituting it back into the equation:
\[ \text{Distance} = 1.2 \times 10^{-2} \times 10^6 \]
Combine the powers of ten:
\[ = 1.2 \times 10^{6 - 2} \] \[ = 1.2 \times 10^4 \]
So, the distance the tectonic plate would move in \( 2 \times 10^6 \) years is:
\[ \boxed{1.2 \times 10^4} \text{ meters} \]
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