Chapter 4 - Polynomials - 4.2 Negative Exponents and Scientific Notations - 4.2 Exercise Set - Page 244: 9

positive power of 10

The length of an Olympic marathon is $42.195$ kilometers. Each kilometer is equivalent to $100,000$ centimeters. Thus, the length of the Olympic marathon in centimeters is: $=42.195 \times 10,000 \\=4,219,500$ Since the measurement involves a big number, then its equivalent scientific notation must have a positive power of 10.