Mastering Scientific Notation: Real-World Problem Solving

A scientist measures the mass of a small particle as 3.5 x 10^-27 kg. If another particle has a mass of 2.1 x 10^-27 kg, what is the total mass of both particles in scientific notation?

• 5.6 x 10^-27 kg

• 4.5 x 10^-27 kg

• 3.0 x 10^-27 kg

• 6.0 x 10^-27 kg

A cell in a petri dish contains 4.2 x 10^6 bacteria. After a day, 1.3 x 10^6 bacteria die. How many bacteria remain in the dish?

• 2.9 x 10^6

• 4.2 x 10^6

• 3.5 x 10^6

• 1.0 x 10^6

The distance from Earth to a nearby star is approximately 4.2 x 10^16 meters. If a spacecraft travels 1.5 x 10^16 meters towards the star, how far is it from the star now in scientific notation?

• 4.0 x 10^16 meters

• 1.2 x 10^16 meters

• 2.7 x 10^16 meters

• 3.5 x 10^16 meters

A factory produces 5.6 x 10^4 widgets in a day. If it produces 3.2 x 10^4 fewer widgets on a holiday, how many widgets does it produce on that day?

• 2.4 x 10^4

• 3.2 x 10^4

• 5.6 x 10^4

• 1.6 x 10^4

A comet is traveling at a speed of 2.5 x 10^4 meters per second. If it slows down by 1.2 x 10^4 meters per second, what is its new speed in scientific notation?

• 1.3 x 10^4 m/s

• 1.0 x 10^4 m/s

• 1.5 x 10^4 m/s

• 2.0 x 10^4 m/s

The population of a small town is 1.8 x 10^5 people. If 2.5 x 10^4 people move away, what is the new population of the town in scientific notation?

• 1.3 x 10^5

• 1.55 x 10^5

• 1.75 x 10^5

• 2.0 x 10^5

A researcher finds that a certain chemical is present in 3.0 x 10^-5 grams in a sample. If another sample contains 1.2 x 10^-5 grams of the same chemical, what is the total amount of the chemical in both samples?

• 2.1 x 10^-5 grams

• 3.5 x 10^-5 grams

• 4.2 x 10^-5 grams

• 5.0 x 10^-5 grams

A satellite orbits Earth at an altitude of 3.6 x 10^7 meters. If it descends by 1.5 x 10^7 meters, what is its new altitude in scientific notation?

• 2.5 x 10^7

• 2.1 x 10^7

• 1.2 x 10^7

• 3.6 x 10^7

A library has 2.4 x 10^3 books. If it acquires 1.1 x 10^3 more books, how many books does the library have now in scientific notation?

• 1.3 x 10^3

• 2.5 x 10^3

• 3.5 x 10^3

• 4.0 x 10^3

A car travels 1.2 x 10^2 kilometers in the first hour and 3.4 x 10^2 kilometers in the second hour. What is the total distance traveled by the car in scientific notation?

• 5.0 x 10^2 km

• 3.6 x 10^2 km

• 4.0 x 10^2 km

• 4.6 x 10^2 km