Understanding Scientific Notation and Exponential Functions

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The discussion focuses on a homework problem requiring the square root of 6.70 × 10^-19. The user initially calculated and entered 6.7e^-19, which was incorrect and resulted in an error message indicating a numeric answer was needed. Participants emphasized that the answer should be entered in the exact format as presented in the question, without using exponential notation like "e" or "× (10^(-19))". There is also a debate about the clarity of using "e" for scientific notation versus the more conventional "10^". The consensus is that proper formatting is crucial for online homework submissions.
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i'm doing my online homework as we speak and they problem I'm on is this

Use your calculator to find the square root of 6.70 × 10^-19

and i calculated that problem in my calculated and i got

6.7e^-19 and i typed it in my homework and its giving me an error and saying
"This question expects a numeric answer"

can anyone help me?
 
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i guess just try to type it in as

6.70 × (10^(-19))
 
nick727kcin said:
i guess just try to type it in as

6.70 × (10^(-19))

I just tried that and it didn't work and i got this message

"Only a number required. Computer reads units of "× (10^(-19))".
 
What am I missing here? 6.7e-19 is NOT the square root of 6.7e-19.

As a side note generally when the e notation is used you do to superscript it.
 
TMNT said:
i'm doing my online homework as we speak and they problem I'm on is this

Use your calculator to find the square root of 6.70 × 10^-19

and i calculated that problem in my calculated and i got

6.7e^-19 and i typed it in my homework and its giving me an error and saying
"This question expects a numeric answer"

can anyone help me?
Well first of all, your answer is not correct. You show the same number again, just with a different exponential notation. As for getting the online parser to accept your answer, just type it exactly in the same format that it is showing you its question number in. Look at where there are spaces, and how it is showing exponential notation.
 
As berkeman said, the answer is not correct.

But I want to point out my feelings towards the notation.
esomething typically means the exponent function - that is, the base of the natural log (e ~= 2.7).

If you want to denote 10^something, use either a*10b or aEb (the latter being more of an engineer's notation).

This is just my opinion, but I think most will agree using "aeb" is deceiving.
 
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