Scientific Notation

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If n is a positive integer and , what is the value of m?

(1)

(2)

Review: Scientific Notation




Explanation

We are presented with an expression for m in scientific notation, and we are asked for the value of m. We are going to need to find the power n, which is a positive integer. On to the data statements, separately first.

Statement (1) gives us a range for m. Since n must be a positive integer, we can list out specific cases, see which are permitted by Statement (1), and then draw our conclusions:

Cases and are not allowed by this statement, because then m is too small to fall inside the specified range.

Case: . Then, . That falls in the range prescribed by Statement (1) and it gives a specific value of m.

Case: . Then, . That also falls in the range, since it's less than .

We can stop at this point and conclude that there are multiple possible values of m, given the information we have on hand, so Statement (1) is insufficient.

Statement (2) tells us the value of . Since we know that m is positive, this information is sufficient to determine the value of m uniquely. (It's the case in which .) Statement (2) is sufficient.

The correct answer is (B).


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