To find the increase in the national debt over the 50-year period, we simply subtract the initial debt from the final debt.
Final debt in 2021: $2.9617 × 10¹³
Initial debt in 1971: $3.98 × 10¹¹
Increase in debt = Final debt - Initial debt
Increase in debt = ($2.9617 × 10¹³) - ($3.98 × 10¹¹)
To subtract these values, we need to express them in the same exponent format.
Final debt = $29.617 × 10¹²
Initial debt = $0.398 × 10¹³
Increase in debt = ($29.617 × 10¹²) - ($0.398 × 10¹³)
Now, let's subtract these values:
Increase in debt = $29.617 × 10¹² - $0.398 × 10¹³
Increase in debt = $29.617 × 10¹² - $0.0398 × 10¹⁴ (we move the decimal point one place to the right because the exponent increased by one)
Now, let's subtract:
Increase in debt = $29.5772 × 10¹² (we express it back in scientific notation)
Therefore, the increase in the debt over the 50-year period is $2.95772 × 10¹¹, which is approximately $2.9579 × 10¹³.
So, the correct answer is D. $2.9579 × 10¹³.
The U.S. national debt was $2.9617 × 10¹³ in 2021 and $3.98 × 10¹¹ in 1971. Find how much the debt increased in the 50-year period.
A. $3.0015 × 10¹³
B. $1.0183 × 10²⁴
C. $2.9219 × 10¹¹
D. $2.9219 × 10¹³
1 answer