Math Is Fun Forum

mathxyz

Member

From: Brooklyn, NY

Registered: 2024-02-24

Posts: 1,053

Diameter of an Atom

The diameter of an Atom is about 1 x 10^(-10) meter. Express this diameter as a decimal.

Let me see.

Now 10^(-10) means to move 10 places to the right of 1.

In that case, 1 x 10^(-10) becomes 1,000,000,000.

You say?

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,627

Re: Diameter of an Atom

Once again move left when the power of 10 is negative.

Bob

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

mathxyz

Member

From: Brooklyn, NY

Registered: 2024-02-24

Posts: 1,053

Re: Diameter of an Atom

Once again move left when the power of 10 is negative.

Bob

All these years since high school I honestly thought that a negative power means to move right and a positive power means to move left. At the age of 59, I finally learn the facts.

Answer: 0.000,000,000,1

Yes?

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,627

Re: Diameter of an Atom

Yes. I think you've got it now. But you can always check with a calculator unless the display hasn't enough digits to avoid index form.

Bob

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

mathxyz

Member

From: Brooklyn, NY

Registered: 2024-02-24

Posts: 1,053

Re: Diameter of an Atom

Yes. I think you've got it now. But you can always check with a calculator unless the display hasn't enough digits to avoid index form.

Bob

You are right. I hate using calculators but sometimes they are needed to reduce the amount of tedious math work.