Question

An average person in the United States throws away 4.5 × 10–1 kg of trash per day. In 2013, there were about 3.2 × 106 people in the U.S.About how many kilograms of trash was thrown away in the United States in 2013?

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

52,596,000

Explanation:

We multiply 4.5×10⁻¹ × 3.2×10⁶.  To do this, we can use the commutative property and switch the factors around:

4.5(3.2)(10⁻¹)(10⁶)

Using our powers of exponents, we know that multiplying powers of the same base means we add exponents; this gives us

4.5(3.2)(10⁵)

This gives us

14.4(10⁵) = 144,000.

This is the amount thrown away per day.  There are 365.25 days per year; this gives us

144000(365.25) = 52,596,000

Answer 2

The equation should be: how many people * daily trash * 365 days in a year = kilograms of trash was thrown away in the United States in 2013

so enter your givens and it's now (we'll use
4.5 × 10–1 kg * 3.2 × 106 * 365=14.4x10^5x365
5256x10^5
525600000