The US 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 (1 p

Answer 1

To calculate the increase in the national debt over the 50-year period, we subtract the debt in 1971 from the debt in 2021.

Debt increase = Debt in 2021 - Debt in 1971
Debt increase = \$2.9617 * 10^13 - \$3.98 * 10^11

To subtract these numbers, we need to express them in the same scientific notation. We can do this by dividing the larger number by 10 until their exponents are the same. In this case, we divide \$2.9617 * 10^13 by 10^2 to get the same exponent as \$3.98 * 10^11.

Debt increase = (\$2.9617 * 10^13 / 10^2) - \$3.98 * 10^11
Debt increase = \$2.9617 * 10^11 - \$3.98 * 10^11

Now we can subtract the numbers and keep the result in scientific notation:

Debt increase = \$2.9617 * 10^11 - \$3.98 * 10^11
Debt increase = -\$1.0183 * 10^11

Therefore, the national debt increased by approximately -\$1.0183 * 10^11 (negative because it is a decrease) in the 50-year period.