Mastering Subtraction & Addition in Scientific Notation

A scientist measures the mass of a small particle as 3.5 x 10^-9 kg. If another particle has a mass of 1.2 x 10^-9 kg, what is the difference in their masses in scientific notation?

• 2.3 x 10^-9 kg

• 1.5 x 10^-9 kg

• 4.7 x 10^-9 kg

• 3.0 x 10^-9 kg

A car travels a distance of 2.5 x 10^3 meters in one hour. If it travels another 1.5 x 10^3 meters in the next hour, what is the total distance traveled in scientific notation?

• 2.0 x 10^3 meters

• 4.0 x 10^3 meters

• 3.5 x 10^3 meters

• 5.0 x 10^3 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

• 4.0 x 10^4

• 2.7 x 10^4

• 1.5 x 10^4

A computer processes data at a speed of 2.0 x 10^6 bytes per second. If it processes 3.5 x 10^6 bytes in one minute, how many bytes are processed in scientific notation?

• 2.0 x 10^7

• 1.2 x 10^8

• 3.5 x 10^6

• 1.5 x 10^9

A biologist studies a bacteria culture that grows at a rate of 1.5 x 10^3 bacteria per hour. If the culture starts with 2.0 x 10^3 bacteria, how many bacteria are there after one hour in scientific notation?

• 2.5 x 10^3

• 1.0 x 10^3

• 3.5 x 10^3

• 4.0 x 10^3

A satellite orbits the Earth at a height of 3.0 x 10^7 meters. If it descends to a height of 1.5 x 10^7 meters, what is the change in height in scientific notation?

• 3.0 x 10^7 meters

• 1.5 x 10^7 meters

• 1.0 x 10^7 meters

• 2.0 x 10^7 meters

A factory produces 5.0 x 10^4 toys in a month. If it produces 2.0 x 10^4 fewer toys the next month, how many toys does it produce in scientific notation?

• 3.0 x 10^4

• 5.0 x 10^5

• 2.0 x 10^4

• 4.0 x 10^4

A smartphone has a storage capacity of 1.2 x 10^8 bytes. If 3.0 x 10^7 bytes are used, how much storage is left in scientific notation?

• 8.0 x 10^7

• 7.5 x 10^7

• 9.0 x 10^7

• 1.0 x 10^8

A researcher measures the length of a virus at 2.5 x 10^-7 meters. If another virus is measured at 1.0 x 10^-7 meters, what is the difference in their lengths in scientific notation?

• 1.0 x 10^-6 meters

• 1.5 x 10^-7 meters

• 3.5 x 10^-7 meters

• 2.0 x 10^-7 meters

A space probe travels at a speed of 4.0 x 10^4 kilometers per hour. If it travels for 2.5 x 10^2 hours, how far does it travel in scientific notation?

• 8.0 x 10^7 km

• 2.5 x 10^6 km

• 5.0 x 10^8 km

• 1.0 x 10^7 km