What expressions are equal to 10 to the power of negative 5
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer:
Expressions equal to 10−510^{-5} include:
- 1105\frac{1}{10^5}
- 0.000010.00001
- 1×10−51 \times 10^{-5}
Explanation (Approx. 300 words)
The expression 10−510^{-5} is an example of a number written in scientific notation with a negative exponent. Understanding negative exponents is key to converting this into equivalent expressions.
Meaning of 10−510^{-5}:
The negative exponent tells us to take the reciprocal of the base raised to the positive exponent: 10−5=110510^{-5} = \frac{1}{10^5}
So instead of multiplying 10 by itself five times, you divide 1 by 10^5.
Step-by-step calculation:
105=10×10×10×10×10=100,00010^5 = 10 \times 10 \times 10 \times 10 \times 10 = 100,000 10−5=1100,000=0.0000110^{-5} = \frac{1}{100,000} = 0.00001
Alternative Expressions:
All of the following are mathematically equivalent to 10−510^{-5}:
- Fraction form:
1100,000\frac{1}{100,000} - Decimal form:
0.000010.00001 - Scientific notation:
1×10−51 \times 10^{-5}
These forms are used in different contexts. Scientists often prefer scientific notation for very small or very large numbers because it’s more compact and readable.
Why it’s Important:
Understanding how to interpret and convert powers of 10, especially with negative exponents, is essential in math and science. It helps you work with measurements like micrometers (10−610^{-6} meters), nanoseconds (10−910^{-9} seconds), and very small concentrations in chemistry.
So, when you see 10−510^{-5}, you can confidently say it’s equal to:
- One hundred-thousandth
- 0.00001
- 1105\frac{1}{10^5}
- 1×10−51 \times 10^{-5}
All are correct and interchangeable depending on the context.