Question

A rectangular section of wilderness will be set aside as a new wildlife refuge. Its dimensions are 6 x 10^5 meters by 5 x 10^4 meters. Find the area of the land in square meters by 5 x 10^4 meters. Find the area of the land in the square meters. Make sure your answer is in correct scientific notation form and show your work.
Thanks.

Answer 1

Answer:

area is length * width, so

5x10^5 * 4x10^4

multiplication is commutative, so that's

5*4 * 10^5*10^4

= 20 * 10^9

= 2*10^10 m^2

if the powers stuff is confusing, it's just shorthand for multiplication

10^5*10^4 = (10*10*10*10*10)*(10*10*10*10) = 10^9

just as multiplication is shorthand for addition

5*4 = 5+5+5+5