Lesson 2Multiplying Powers of Ten

Let’s explore patterns with exponents when we multiply powers of 10.

Learning Targets:

  • I can explain and use a rule for multiplying powers of 10.

2.1 100, 1, or \frac{1}{100} ?

A large square composed of 100 small squares

Clare said she sees 100.

Tyler says he sees 1.

Mai says she sees \frac{1}{100} .

Who do you agree with?

2.2 Picture a Power of 10

In the diagram, the medium rectangle is made up of 10 small squares. The large square is made up of 10 medium rectangles.

A diagram of a large square, a medium rectangle, and a small square. The medium rectangle is made up of 10 small squares aligned vertically. The large square is made up of 10 medium rectangles placed side by side.
  1. How could you represent the large square as a power of 10?
  2. If each small square represents 10^2 , then what does the medium rectangle represent? The large square?
  3. If the medium rectangle represents 10^5 , then what does the large square represent? The small square?
  4. If the large square represents 10^{100} , then what does the medium rectangle represent? The small square?

2.3 Multiplying Powers of Ten

    1. Complete the table to explore patterns in the exponents when multiplying powers of 10. You may skip a single box in the table, but if you do, be prepared to explain why you skipped it.
      expression expanded single power of 10
      10^2 \boldcdot 10^3 (10 \boldcdot 10)(10\boldcdot 10 \boldcdot 10) 10^5
      10^4 \boldcdot 10^3
      10^4 \boldcdot 10^4
      (10 \boldcdot 10 \boldcdot 10)(10 \boldcdot 10 \boldcdot 10 \boldcdot 10 \boldcdot 10)
      10^{18} \boldcdot 10^{23}
    2. If you chose to skip one entry in the table, which entry did you skip? Why?
    1. Use the patterns you found in the table to rewrite 10^n \boldcdot 10^m  as an equivalent expression with a single exponent, like  10^{\boxed{\phantom{3}}} .
    2. Use your rule to write 10^4 \boldcdot 10^0 with a single exponent.  What does this tell you about the value of 10^0 ?
  1. The state of Georgia has roughly 10^7 human residents. Each human has roughly 10^{13} bacteria cells in his or her digestive tract. How many bacteria cells are there in the digestive tracts of all the humans in Georgia?

Are you ready for more?

There are four ways to make 10^4 by multiplying smaller, positive powers of 10.

10^1 \boldcdot 10^1 \boldcdot 10^1 \boldcdot 10^1

10^1 \boldcdot 10^1 \boldcdot 10^2

10^1 \boldcdot 10^3

10^2 \boldcdot 10^2

(This list is complete if you don't pay attention to the order you write them in. For example, we are only counting 10^1 \boldcdot 10^3 and  10^3 \boldcdot 10^1 once.)

  1. How many ways are there to make 10^6 by multiplying smaller powers of 10 together?
  2. How many ways are there to make 10^7 in the same way? 10^8 ?

Lesson 2 Summary

In this lesson, we developed a rule for multiplying powers of 10: multiplying powers of 10 corresponds to adding the exponents together. To see this, multiply 10^5 and 10^2 . We know that 10^5 has five factors that are 10 and 10^2 has two factors that are 10. That means that 10^5 \boldcdot 10^2 has 7 factors that are 10. 10^5 \boldcdot 10^2 =(10 \boldcdot 10 \boldcdot 10 \boldcdot 10 \boldcdot 10) \boldcdot (10 \boldcdot 10)= 10^7. This will work for other powers of 10 too. So 10^{14} \boldcdot 10^{47} = 10^{61} .

This rule makes it easier to understand and work with expressions that have exponents.

Lesson 2 Practice Problems

  1. Write each expression with a single exponent:

    1. 10^3 \boldcdot 10^9
    2. 10 \boldcdot 10^4
    3. 10^{10} \boldcdot 10^7
    1. 10^3 \boldcdot 10^3
    2. 10^5 \boldcdot 10^{12}
    3. 10^6 \boldcdot 10^6 \boldcdot 10^6
  2. A large rectangular swimming pool is 1,000 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 10 feet deep. The pool is filled to the top with water.

    1. What is the area of the surface of the water in the pool?
    2. How much water does the pool hold?
    3. Express your answers to the previous two questions as powers of 10.
  3. Here is triangle ABC .

    Triangle ABC with side lengths of 6cm and 8cm. The hypotenuse is 10cm.

    Triangle DEF is similar to triangle ABC , and the length of EF is 5 cm. What are the lengths of sides DE and DF , in centimeters?