# Math Help - Working with scientific notation

1. ## Working with scientific notation

This is part of a Chemical Equilibrium question and I'm just a bit stuck on how to work out the problem with scientific notation and my calculator..

(3.1 x 10tothepower -2)to be squared
--------------------------------------
(8.5 x 10tothepower -1) x (3.1 x 10tothepower -3)to be cubed

I have the answer in my worksheet but I'm unsure of how it was got. I have tried but I got a completely different answer (0.12156...)

2. Originally Posted by Larianne
This is part of a Chemical Equilibrium question and I'm just a bit stuck on how to work out the problem with scientific notation and my calculator..

(3.1 x 10tothepower -2)to be squared
--------------------------------------
(8.5 x 10tothepower -1) x (3.1 x 10tothepower -3)to be cubed

I have the answer in my worksheet but I'm unsure of how it was got. I have tried but I got a completely different answer (0.12156...)

$=\frac{(3.1 \times 10^{-2})^2}{(8.5 \times 10^{-1})(3.1 \times 10^{-3})^3}$

$=\frac{(3.1)^2 \times 10^{-4}}{8.5 \times 10^{-1}\times(3.1)^3 \times 10^{-9}}$

$=\frac{10^{-4}}{8.5 \times3.1 \times 10^{-10}}$

$=\frac{10^{6}}{8.5 \times3.1 }$

now, can you simplify further ???

3. Originally Posted by Shyam
$=\frac{(3.1 \times 10^{-2})^2}{(8.5 \times 10^{-1})(3.1 \times 10^{-3})^3}$

$=\frac{(3.1)^2 \times 10^{-4}}{8.5 \times 10^{-1}\times(3.1)^3 \times 10^{-9}}$

$=\frac{10^{-4}}{8.5 \times3.1 \times 10^{-10}}$

$=\frac{10^{6}}{8.5 \times3.1 }$

now, can you simplify further ???
Thanks for your reply.

Is that the best method when dealing with these types of questions- to separate the powers?

The answer I get is 37950.664

The answer in the worksheet is 3.8 x 10tothepowerof4. So because the question started with the scientific notation you can put the answer back in like that. If that makes any sense???