Question

How do you divide `(8.1*10^2)/(9.0*10^-3)`?

Answer 1

You can deal separately with the numeric and the exponential part. So, first of all, divide `8.1` by `9.0`, obtaining `0.9`. Then, for the exponential part, the exponent will be the sum of the powers at the numerator, minus the powers to the denominator. So, you have `10^{2-(-3)}=10^{2+3}=10^5`.

The final answer is thus
`\frac{8.1 * 10^2}{9.0 * 10^{-3}} = 0.9 * 10^5`

Answer 2

Divide the coefficients and then the exponents separately before recombining.
`(8.1*10^2)/(9.0*10-3)`

`= (8.1)/(9.0) xx (10^2)/(10^(-3))`

`= 0.9 xx (10^2 * 10^3)`

`= 0.9 xx 10^5`

which would usually be normalized as:

`9.0 xx 10^4`