Mastering Scientific Notation: Subtraction & Multiplication

A scientist measures the mass of a small particle as 3.5 x 10^-27 kg. If another particle has a mass of 1.2 x 10^-27 kg, what is the difference in their masses in scientific notation?

• 3.0 x 10^-27 kg

• 4.7 x 10^-27 kg

• 1.5 x 10^-27 kg

• 2.3 x 10^-27 kg

A car travels a distance of 2.5 x 10^5 meters in one hour. If it travels another 1.3 x 10^5 meters in the next hour, what is the total distance traveled in scientific notation?

• 4.1 x 10^5 meters

• 3.0 x 10^5 meters

• 2.0 x 10^5 meters

• 3.8 x 10^5 meters

The population of a small town is approximately 4.2 x 10^4 people. If 1.5 x 10^4 people move away, what is the new population in scientific notation?

• 3.5 x 10^4

• 2.7 x 10^4

• 4.0 x 10^4

• 1.5 x 10^4

A researcher finds that a certain bacteria can reproduce at a rate of 2.0 x 10^3 bacteria per hour. If the bacteria reproduce for 5 hours, how many bacteria are there in total in scientific notation?

• 2.0 x 10^5

• 1.0 x 10^3

• 1.0 x 10^4

• 5.0 x 10^3

A satellite orbits the Earth at a height of 3.0 x 10^7 meters. If another satellite orbits at a height of 1.5 x 10^7 meters, what is the difference in their heights in scientific notation?

• 1.0 x 10^7 meters

• 3.5 x 10^7 meters

• 2.0 x 10^7 meters

• 1.5 x 10^7 meters

A factory produces 1.2 x 10^6 widgets in a month. If production increases by 3.5 x 10^5 widgets the next month, what is the new production total in scientific notation?

• 1.55 x 10^6

• 1.9 x 10^6

• 1.25 x 10^6

• 1.2 x 10^6

The distance from the Earth to the Moon is about 3.84 x 10^8 meters. If a spacecraft travels 1.2 x 10^8 meters towards the Moon, how far is it from the Moon in scientific notation?

• 3.84 x 10^8 meters

• 2.04 x 10^8 meters

• 2.64 x 10^8 meters

• 1.2 x 10^8 meters

A computer processes data at a rate of 5.0 x 10^9 bits per second. If it processes for 2 seconds, how many bits are processed in total in scientific notation?

• 2.0 x 10^10

• 1.5 x 10^10

• 1.0 x 10^10

• 5.0 x 10^9

A small island has an area of 2.5 x 10^3 square kilometers. If 1.0 x 10^2 square kilometers are developed, what is the remaining area in scientific notation?

• 2.3 x 10^3

• 2.0 x 10^3

• 2.5 x 10^3

• 2.4 x 10^3

A biologist studies a species of fish that can live up to 1.5 x 10^2 years. If a particular fish is 4.0 x 10^1 years old, how many more years can it potentially live in scientific notation?

• 1.0 x 10^1

• 1.1 x 10^2

• 5.0 x 10^1

• 2.0 x 10^2