what is 5.5 x 10^4 multipled by 2.2 x 10-^8? write the answer in scientific notation.

Answer 1

To multiply the numbers in scientific notation, you can multiply the coefficients and add the exponents of the 10s.

1. Multiply the coefficients: \( 5.5 \times 2.2 = 12.1 \)

2. Add the exponents: \( 10^{4} \times 10^{-8} = 10^{(4 + (-8))} = 10^{-4} \)

Now combine them: \[ 12.1 \times 10^{-4} \]

Since scientific notation requires the coefficient to be between 1 and 10, we adjust \( 12.1 \) by moving the decimal point one place to the left, which increases the exponent by 1:

\[ 12.1 \times 10^{-4} = 1.21 \times 10^{-3} \]

So, the final answer in scientific notation is: \[ 1.21 \times 10^{-3} \]