Question

The volume of the Atlantic Ocean is about 3.1⋅10173.1 \cdot 10^{17}3.1⋅10173, point, 1, dot, 10, start superscript, 17, end superscript cubic meters. The Mississippi River has an annual flow of 6.3⋅10116.3 \cdot 10^{11}6.3⋅10116, point, 3, dot, 10, start superscript, 11, end superscript cubic meters. how many times would the annual flow of the mississippi river fit in the atlantic ocean? write your final answer in scientific notation, and round to two decimal places.

Answer 1

Answer: The annual flow of the Mississippi river would fit in the Atlantic ocean $4.92\times10^5$ times.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given: Volume of Atlantic Ocean= $3.1\times10^{17}$ cubic meters

Annual flow of Mississippi river = $6.3\times10^{11}$ cubic meters.

then, the number of times the annual flow of the Mississippi river would fit in the Atlantic ocean = $\dfrac{\text{ Volume of Atlantic Ocean}}{\text{Annual flow of Mississippi river}}$

$=\dfrac{3.1\times10^{17}}{6.3\times10^{11}}\ \ \=0.492063492063\times10^{17-11}\ \ [\dfrac{a^m}{a^n}=a^{m-n}]\\\\=0.492063492063\times10^6\approx4.92\times10^5$

Hence,  the annual flow of the Mississippi river would fit in the Atlantic ocean $4.92\times10^5$ times.