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EXAS
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NSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
TI-30X ÙS: A Guide for Teachers
7
Star Voyage — Scientific Notation
(Continued)
Activity
Present the following problem to students:
You are a captain of a starship. You have been
assigned to go to Alpha Centauri and you have 5
years to get there. The distance from the sun to
Alpha Centauri is 2.5 x 10
13
miles. The distance
from the earth to the sun is approximately 9.3 x
10
7
miles. Your ship can travel at the speed of light.
You know that light can travel a distance of 6 x
10
12
miles in 1 light year. Will you be able to get to
Alpha Centauri on time?
Procedure
1. Using the TI-30X
Ö
S, find the total distance you
need to travel.
2.5 Q 10
13
+ 9.3 Q 10
7
= 2.5000093 Q 10
13
miles
2. Next, find out how long it will take you to travel
the distance. (distance traveled P 1 light year)
2.5000093 Q 10
13
P 6 Q 10
12
= 4.166682167 years
3. Can you make the trip in the given time?
Yes
Hint: Make sure your calculator
is in scientific notation mode
before you beginning addition.
Extension
Now that you have been successful, you have been
asked to make another trip. The distance from the
Sun to Delta Centauri is 9 x 10
13
miles. How long
will it take you to get there from Earth?
≈
15 years
Hint: The Earth is approximately
9.3 x 10
7
miles from the Sun.
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