Answer: 3 × 10⁴ miles²
Step-by-step explanation:
Given that:
Estimated Surface area of Lake = 30,000 square miles
Expressing the estimated area as a whole number multiplied by a power of ten
Hence, we are required to express the surface area in standard form:
30,000 miles ² in standard format:
30,000 is equivalent to (3 × 10,000)
3 is a whole number
10,000 = (10 * 10 * 10 * 10)= 4 th power of 10
10,000 = (10 * 10 * 10 * 10) = 10⁴
Hence,
3 × (10 * 10 * 10 * 10) = 3 × 10⁴ miles²