When dividing two numbers in scientific notation such as 10^5/10^3 what is the process you use?

When dividing two numbers in scientific notation such as 10^5/10^3 what is the process you use?

• A. add the exponents
• B. multiply the exponents
• C. divide the exponents
• D. subtract the exponents

Answer: (D)

When dividing powers of the same base, you subtract the exponents. This reflects how many factors of the base you remove versus keep. For 10^5 divided by 10^3, you subtract the exponents: 10^(5−3) = 10^2, which equals 100. If you ever have a coefficient in front, you’d also divide the coefficients, giving (a×10^m)/(b×10^n) = (a/b) × 10^(m−n). The subtraction rule applies to the exponents because division reduces the number of base factors.

When dividing powers of the same base, you subtract the exponents. This reflects how many factors of the base you remove versus keep.

For 10^5 divided by 10^3, you subtract the exponents: 10^(5−3) = 10^2, which equals 100.

If you ever have a coefficient in front, you’d also divide the coefficients, giving (a×10^m)/(b×10^n) = (a/b) × 10^(m−n). The subtraction rule applies to the exponents because division reduces the number of base factors.