Analyzing and Communicating Scientific Information: Mastery Test

Type the correct answer in each box. Use numerals instead of words.

In scientific notation, the radius of each bacterium in a petri dish is [tex]3.15 \times 10^7[/tex] meters. The radius of the bacterium written as a decimal number in standard form is ________ meters.

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Answer :

To convert the radius of each bacterium from scientific notation to a decimal number in standard form, follow these steps:

1. Identify the given value in scientific notation:
The radius is given as [tex]\(3.15 \times 10^7\)[/tex] meters.

2. Interpret the scientific notation:
- The base value is [tex]\(3.15\)[/tex].
- The exponent [tex]\(7\)[/tex] indicates that [tex]\(3.15\)[/tex] should be multiplied by [tex]\(10^7\)[/tex].

3. Convert the scientific notation to a decimal number:
- To convert [tex]\(3.15 \times 10^7\)[/tex] to standard form, move the decimal point in [tex]\(3.15\)[/tex] seven places to the right.

4. Perform the conversion:
- Starting with [tex]\(3.15\)[/tex]:
- Move the decimal point one place to the right to get [tex]\(31.5\)[/tex].
- Move the decimal point two places to the right to get [tex]\(315\)[/tex].
- Continue this process until the decimal point has been moved a total of seven places.

As a result, moving the decimal point seven places to the right converts [tex]\(3.15 \times 10^7\)[/tex] to:

[tex]\[ 31500000.0 \][/tex]

Thus, the radius of each bacterium written in standard form is:
[tex]\[ 31500000.0 \][/tex]

So, the radius of each bacterium is [tex]\( 31500000.0 \)[/tex] meters.