Posted by Cube on September 10, 2002 at 17:23:36:
In Reply to: Don't feel stupid more ... posted by Cube on September 10, 2002 at 17:09:58:
It appears you are getting your minuses and divisions mixed up.
Though you subtract exponents from each other it is still a process of division. Use your calculator to check.
It may be easier for you to see this process in terms of a dollar if you forget it again.
1 dollar = 100 pennies = 10^2 and log 100 = 2
And you already know a dollar is 100 times bigger than a penny.
So your problem
10^12/10^8= 10^4 = 10,000 and log 10,000 = 4
so the thunder is 10,000 times louder than the sound of traffic.
So you will always be able to draw from what you know and never feel stupid again when asked a similar question. :) on to the the next one ...
Also if a teacher laughs at your mistakes he or she missed the opportunity to teach you how to learn from your mistakes and he or she just made a mistake too. So laugh right back.
: A dime is 1 tenth of a dollar. 10 cents = .10= 10/100 and log .1 = -1
: so your problem
: 10^12/10^8= 10^4 = 10,000 and log 10,000 = 4
: so the thunder is 10,000 times louder than the sound of traffic.
: : : : Is it really a matter of 10^12 - 10^8 = 10^4?
: : : First, look at that again!
: : : Is 2^5 - 2^2 = 2^3 ?
: : No, it's not. But I feel very stupid today. What are the next steps? I can't recall?