Multiplying and Dividing Word Problems in Scientific Notation

The pitch of a sound is determined by the number of vibrations produced per second. The note “middle C” produces 2.62 x 10² vibrations per second. If a pianist plays middle C for 5 x 10^-1 seconds, how many vibrations will occur? Which operation would you use to solve this problem?

• Addition

• Subtraction

• Multiply

• Divide

Solve:
(6 x 10⁶) / (2 x 10³)

• 12 x 10³

• 3 x 10⁹

• 1.2 x 10⁴

• 3 x 10³

In the year 2000, the United States public debt was about 5.6 x 10¹² dollars.  The population of the United States in that year was about 2.8 x 10⁸ people.  What was the average debt per person?

• Add

• Subtract

• Multiply

• Divide

A corporation earned a profit of $2.5 × 10⁴ for 1 × 10³ days in a row. What was the corporation’s total profit during this time period?

• 2.5 million

• 25 million

• 1.2 million

• 26,000

A factory can make 3 × 10⁴ t-shirts per day, how many t-shirts will it make in 2.5 ×10² days?

• Add

• Subtract

• Multiply

• Divide

There are approximately 3.1 x 10⁸ people in the United States. If each person has 4.1 x 10¹ coins, how many coins are there altogether?

• Add

• Subtract

• Multiply

• Divide

The mass of he sun is 1.989 x 10³⁰ kilograms. The mass of the earth is 5.98 x 10²⁴ kilograms. How many times bigger is the sun than the earth?

• Add

• Subtract

• Multiply

• Divide

There are approximately 3.1 x 10⁸ people in the United States. If each person has 4.1 x 10¹ coins, how many coins are there altogether?

• 271 x 10¹⁰

• 271 x 10⁹

• 271 x 10¹¹

• 271 x 10⁸

The Colorado Department of Education spent about 4.408 x 10⁹ in fiscal year 2004-2005 on public schools.  There were about 7.6 x 10⁵ students enrolled in public school.  What was the average spending per student? 

• Add

• Subtract

• Multiply

• Divide