rate of speed: An electron travels 3.36m in 6.31X10 >8 s.

[staceyrho]

I am working on a problem for a physics class, but i'm confused on what to do with a number in the problem. I'm hoping somone can clarify for me. Here is the question.

An electron travels 3.36m in 6.31X10 >8 (that's a negitive 8) s. How fast is it traveling? Answer in units of m/s.

Okay here's what I don't understand what do I do with the 6.31 X 10>8 in this problem. Do I multiply 6.31 X 10>8 or what? I can't seem to find any sorces on the internet or my book to really help clarify that. It's been so long since I've had a math class and this is just confusing me.

please help!
thanks,
Stacey

 

[stapel]

You're given meters and you're given seconds, and asked for meters per (divided by) second.

So do the indicated division.

Eliz.

 

[skeeter]

\(\displaystyle \L \frac{3.36}{6.31 \times 10^{-8}} =\)

\(\displaystyle \L \frac{3.36}{6.31} \times 10^8 =\)

\(\displaystyle \L 0.532 \times 10^8 = 5.32 \times 10^7\) m/s

 

[Denis]

Stacey, I think you simply forgot this:
x^(-p) = 1 / x^p
"x to the power minus p equals 1 divided by x to the power p"

So 6.31(10^(-8)) = 6.31 / 10^8