Just how much is a trillion? A trillion, written 1,000,000,000,000, is a million
million, or a thousand billion. A trillion seconds would last more than 31,000 years —
that is, 310 centuries. The U.S. government projects that by 2017, consumers and
taxpayers will spend more than $4 trillion on health care, accounting for $1 of every
$5 spent. (Source:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.)
In Section 5.3,we use exponentsand scientific notationto write and calculate
with large numbers, such as the national debt, tax revenue, and the distances from
Earth to celestial objects.
Exponents and Polynomials
5.1 The Product Rule
and Power Rules for
Exponents
5.2 Integer Exponents
and the Quotient
Rule
Summary Exercises on the
Rules for Exponents
5.3 An Application of Exponents: Scientific Notation
Exponents:
Scientific Notation
5.4 Adding and
Subtracting
Polynomials;
Graphing Simple
Polynomials
5.5 Multiplying Polynomials
Polynomials
5.6 Special Products
5.7 Dividing Polynomials
Polynomials
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CHAPTER