An average person in the United States throws away 4.5 × 10–1 kg of trash per day. In 2013, there were about 3.2 × 106 people in the U.S.
About how many kilograms of trash was thrown away in the United States in 2013?



Answer :

Hello, 

we have to multiply the total number of people by the amount of trash that an average person throws away, then:

[tex]Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=(4.5*10^{-1})*(3.2*10^{6}) \\ \\ We\,\,know\,\,that:\,\,\,\, x^{a}* x^{b}=x^{a+b} \,\,\,\,and\,\,\,\, \frac{x^{a} }{x^{b}} =x^{a-b} \\ \\ Then: \\ \\ Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=(4.5*10^{-1})*(3.2*10^{6}) \\ Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=( \frac{45}{10} *10^{-1})*( \frac{32}{10} *10^{6})\\ Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=(45*10^{-2} )*(32*10^{5})\\ Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=(45*32)*(10^{-2}*10^{5})\\ Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=1440*10^{-2+5}[/tex]
[tex]\boxed{\\ Total\,\,kilograms\,\,of\,\,trash=1440*10^{3}kg}[/tex]