Question

How to simplify `3.21 times 10^2 + 1.5 times 10^4` in scientific notation?

Answer 1

`1.5321 times 10^4`

Explanation:

The secret is to make the powers of 10 the same. In a sense the powers of 10 are the units so you are converting the numbers so that you are adding like for like.

`3.21 times 10^2 = 0.0321 times 10^4`
Giving:

`(0.0321 + 1.5) times 10^4`

`1.5321 times 10^4`