Question

Choose the option with the proper number of sig figs

Answer 1

$\text{ 2 }\times10^8$

Explanation:$\begin{gathered} \text{Given:} \\ \frac{9\text{ }\times10^9}{4.5\text{ }\times10^1} \end{gathered}$

let's break down the expression to get the final result:

$\begin{gathered} \frac{9\text{ }\times10^9}{4.5\text{ }\times10^1}\text{ = }\frac{9}{4.5}\times\text{ }\frac{10^9}{10^1} \\ \frac{9}{4.5}\text{ = }\frac{9\text{ }\times\text{ 10}}{4.5\text{ }\times\text{ 10}}\text{ = }\frac{90}{45} \\ \frac{9}{4.5}\text{ = }2 \\ \\ \frac{10^9}{10^1}\colon\text{ when we divide exponents with same base, } \\ we\text{ take one of the base and combine the exponents by subtracting them:} \\ \frac{10^9}{10^1}=10^{9-1} \\ \frac{10^9}{10^1}=10^8 \end{gathered}$$\begin{gathered} \frac{9}{4.5}\times\text{ }\frac{10^9}{10^1}\text{ = 2 }\times10^8 \\ \\ \text{when dividing decimals, }the\text{ least number of }significant\text{ }figures\text{ in the problem}, \\ \text{ }\det ermines\text{ the significant figures in the answer} \\ 9\text{ = 1 significant, 4.5 = 2 significant} \\ \text{The least significant is 1} \\ \\ \frac{9\text{ }\times10^9}{4.5\text{ }\times10^1}\text{ = 2 }\times10^8 \end{gathered}$