# Math Help - Big exponent problem.... (for probabilities...)

1. ## Big exponent problem.... (for probabilities...)

What is the answer for the following equation:

(8E18 x 4E12) ^ 1500

I can't find a calculator that goes that high....

Matt

2. Originally Posted by mgoy_11
What is the answer for the following equation:

(8E18 x 4E12) ^ 1500

I can't find a calculator that goes that high....

Matt
$( 8 \times 10^{18} \cdot 4 \times 10^{12} ) ^{1500}$

$= (32 \times 10^{30} )^{1500}$

$= (32)^{1500} \cdot (10^{30} )^{1500}$

$= (2^5)^{1500} \cdot 10^{45000}$

$= 2^{7500} \cdot 10^{45000}$

You can do better than this, but as there are no factors of 10 in 2 to any power all you would be doing is writing out numbers. I don't think there is any way to write the answer in a simpler form.

-Dan

3. Originally Posted by mgoy_11
What is the answer for the following equation:

(8E18 x 4E12) ^ 1500

I can't find a calculator that goes that high....

Matt
wow, what are you trying to work out here?

$\left( 8 \times 10^{18} \times 4 \times 10^{12} \right)^{1500} = \left( 32 \times 10^{30} \right)^{1500} = 32^{1500} \times 10^{45000}$

now, working out $32^{1500}$ is rough.

maybe something here will be relevant

(i have another idea, but i'm not even sure if it's worth me running it down)

(EDIT: Yeah, it's not worth me running it down...)

(EDIT 2: Beaten by topsquark by a few seconds!)

4. Originally Posted by Jhevon
maybe something here will be relevant
I doubt it as the op didn't say anything about needing a last digit. (Which would be easily seen to be 0 in this case, anyway.)

-Dan

5. Thank you very much everyone !!!!!

I should of thought of the answer.....

So I guess If 32^1500 = 5.308 E 2257

Then 5.308 E 2257 x 1E 45000 = 5.308 E 47257

Right ?

In case you're wondering a friend of mine asked me to do the math for the probabilities of a person being born.....

6. Originally Posted by mgoy_11
Thank you very much everyone !!!!!

I should of thought of the answer.....

So I guess If 32^1500 = 5.308 E 2257

Then 5.308 E 2257 x 1E 45000 = 5.308 E 47257

Right ?

In case you're wondering a friend of mine asked me to do the math for the probabilities of a person being born.....

How did you get 32^1500 = 5.308 E 2257 ?

if that's true, then yes, you're right

7. Originally Posted by mgoy_11
In case you're wondering a friend of mine asked me to do the math for the probabilities of a person being born.....