To find the increase in national debt over the 50-year period, subtract the initial debt from the final debt.
Final debt in 2021 = $2.9617 × 10^13
Initial debt in 1971 = $3.98 × 10^11
Debt increase = Final debt - Initial debt
Debt increase = ($2.9617 × 10^13) - ($3.98 × 10^11)
To subtract the two values, the exponents must be the same. Therefore, we must convert the initial debt to scientific notation with the same exponent as the final debt.
$3.98 × 10^11 = $0.0398 × 10^13
Debt increase = ($2.9617 × 10^13) - ($0.0398 × 10^13)
Debt increase = $2.9617 × 10^13 - $0.0398 × 10^13
Debt increase = $(2.9617 - 0.0398) × 10^13
Debt increase = $2.9219 × 10^13
Therefore, the national debt increased by approximately $2.9219 × 10^13.
The U.S. national debt was $2.9617 × 10^13 in 2021 and $3.98 × 10^11 in 1971. Find how much the debt increased in the 50-year period.
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