Type the correct answers in the boxes.

The table shows the approximate masses in kilograms of a dust particle and a specific comet.

\begin{tabular}{|l|l|}
\hline
dust particle & [tex]$0.000000000778 \, \text{kg}$[/tex] \\
\hline
comet & [tex]$544000000000000 \, \text{kg}$[/tex] \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

Fill in the blanks based on the table:

The mass of the dust particle can be written in the form [tex]$a \times 10^b \, \text{kg}$[/tex], where [tex]$a=$[/tex] [tex]$\square$[/tex] and [tex]$b=$[/tex] [tex]$\square$[/tex].

The mass of the comet can be written in the form [tex]$a \times 10^b \, \text{kg}$[/tex], where [tex]$a=$[/tex] [tex]$\square$[/tex] and [tex]$b=$[/tex] [tex]$\square$[/tex].



Answer :

Let's start with the mass of the dust particle, which is given as \(0.000000000778\) kg.

We need to express this number in scientific notation, which is of the form \(a \times 10^b\).

So, the mass of the dust particle in scientific notation is:
[tex]\[ 7.78 \times 10^{-10} \, \text{kg} \][/tex]

Thus, for the dust particle:
- \(a\) is \(7.78\)
- \(b\) is \(-10\)

Next, let's consider the mass of the comet, which is given as \(544000000000000\) kg.

Again, we need to express this number in scientific notation.

So, the mass of the comet in scientific notation is:
[tex]\[ 5.44 \times 10^{14} \, \text{kg} \][/tex]

Thus, for the comet:
- \(a\) is \(5.44\)
- \(b\) is \(14\)

Therefore, the filled-in blanks based on the table would be:

For the dust particle:
- \(a = 7.78\)
- \(b = -10\)

For the comet:
- \(a = 5.44\)
- [tex]\(b = 14\)[/tex]