Chapter 4.7, Problem 42E

To determine

To compare $2.3\times {10}^{-6}\&1.3\times {10}^{-2}$ .

Answer to Problem 42E

  $2.3\times {10}^{-6}<1.3\times {10}^{-2}$

Explanation of Solution

Given information: $2.3\times {10}^{-6}\&1.3\times {10}^{-2}$

To compare the two numbers, need to denote all the numbers in their scientific format. Then compare first the exponent value of 10 in these terms. If two or more numbers have the same exponent of 10, compare the individual numbers.

If have negative exponents of 10, then the lowest negative exponent will be greater than the higher negative exponent.

Hence, on comparing the three numbers, $2.3\times {10}^{-6}<1.3\times {10}^{-2}$