Question

question 5 of 5
the diameter of the sun is about 1.4×10^6 km. the diameter of the planet venus is about 12,000 km.
what is the approximate ratio of the diameter of the sun to the diameter of venus?
a. 1.17×10^3
b. 8.5×10^(-3)
c. 8.5×10^2
d. 1.17×10^2

Explanation:

Step1: Write the diameters in scientific notation

The diameter of the Sun $d_{Sun}=1.4\times 10^{6}$ km, and the diameter of Venus $d_{Venus} = 12000=1.2\times 10^{4}$ km.

Step2: Calculate the ratio

The ratio $r=\frac{d_{Sun}}{d_{Venus}}=\frac{1.4\times 10^{6}}{1.2\times 10^{4}}$.
Using the rule of exponents $\frac{a\times10^{m}}{b\times 10^{n}}=\frac{a}{b}\times10^{m - n}$, we have $\frac{1.4}{1.2}\times10^{6 - 4}$.
$\frac{1.4}{1.2}\approx1.17$, and $10^{6 - 4}=10^{2}$. So $r\approx1.17\times 10^{2}$.

Answer:

D. $1.17\times 10^{2}$