Comparing Numbers in Scientific Notation
Source:
June 8, 2009
Problem Statement
Comparing the numbers 10^{\minus{}49} and 2\cdot 10^{\minus{}50} we may say:
(A)\ \text{the first exceeds the second by }{8\cdot 10^{\minus{}1}}\qquad\\
(B)\ \text{the first exceeds the second by }{2\cdot 10^{\minus{}1}}\qquad \\
(C)\ \text{the first exceeds the second by }{8\cdot 10^{\minus{}50}}\qquad \\
(D)\ \text{the second is five times the first}\qquad \\
(E)\ \text{the first exceeds the second by }{5}