Multiplying, Dividing, and Estimating with Scientific Notation

Warmup

Activity #1

Application of Exponents.

• Use the table to answer questions about different creatures on the planet. Explain your reasoning.

(1.) Which creature is least numerous? Estimate how many times more ants there are.

(2.) Which creature is the least massive? Estimate how many times more massive a human is.

(3.) Which is more massive, the total mass of all the humans or the total mass of all the ants?  About how many times more massive is it?

(4.) Which is more massive, the total mass of all the krill or the total mass of all the blue whales? About how many times more massive is it?

Activity #2

Application of Exponents.

• Use the table to answer questions about professions in the United States as of 2012.
• Express each answer in scientific notation.

(1.) Estimate how many times more nurses there are than doctors.

(2.) Estimate how much money all doctors make put together.

(3.) Estimate how much money all police officers make put together.

(4.) Who makes more money, all enlisted military put together or all military officers put together? Estimate how many times more.

Activity #3

Application of Exponents.

• Choose two celestial objects below and create a scale drawing of them in the applet below.

• Plot a point  for the center of each circle.
• Select the Circle with Center and Radius tool  and click on a point.
• When the dialog box opens, enter the radius.

Challenge #1

How many bucketloads would it take to bucket out the world’s oceans? Write your answer in scientific notation.

Some useful information:

• The world’s oceans hold roughly 1.4 x 10⁹ cubic kilometers of water.
• A typical bucket holds roughly 20,000 cubic centimeters of water.
• There are 10¹⁵ cubic centimeters in a cubic kilometer.

Challenge #2

Evaluate each expression. Use scientific notation to express your answer.

Challenge #3

Here is a table showing the areas of the seven largest countries.