1956 AMC 12 Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 1956 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1956 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

The distance light travels in one year is approximately

5{,}870{,}000{,}000{,}000

miles. The distance light travels in

100

years is:

587\times10^8

miles

587\times10^{10}

miles

587\times10^{-10}

miles

587\times10^{12}

miles

587\times10^{-12}

miles

Multiplying by

100

moves the decimal point two places to the right

Rewrite the given distance as

587\times10^{10}

The given distance is

587\times10^{10}

miles. Multiplying by

100=10^2

gives

(587\times10^{10})10^2=587\times10^{12}

miles.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

Problem 3 in other years