Question

The course length of the Boston Marathon is about 4.2×104 meters. The course length of the Iditarod Trail Invitational ultra-marathon is about 1.6×106 meters. About how many times as long is the course of the Iditarod Trail ultra-marathon as that of the Boston Marathon?

Answer 1

Answer:

The ultra-marathon Idita Rod Trail is about 38 times longer than the Boston Marathon.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let

x -----> the length of the Boston Marathon in meters

y -----> the  length of the Idita rod Trail Invitational ultra-marathon in meters

we have

$x=4.2*10^4\ m$

$y=1.6*10^6\ m$

we know that

To find out how many times as long is the course of the Idita rod Trail ultra-marathon as that of the Boston Marathon, divide the length of the Idita rod Trail Invitational ultra-marathon by the length of the  Boston Marathon

so

$\frac{y}{x}$

$\frac{x}{y}=\frac{1.6*10^6}{4.2*10^4}$

Remember that

To divide two numbers in scientific notation, divide their coefficients and subtract their exponents

$\frac{1.6*10^6}{4.2*10^4}=\frac{1.6}{4.2}*(10^{6-4})=0.381*(10^{2})=38.1$

therefore

The ultra-marathon Idita Rod Trail is about 38 times longer than the Boston Marathon.