Problem Solving

sohailmbaprep wrote:Q) (0.99999999/1.0001) - (0.99999991/1.0003) ... how to simplify this (answer shld be in terms of some power raised to 10)

0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 =

A. 10^-8
B. 3(10^-8)
C. 3(10^-4)
D. 2(10^-4)
E. 10^-4

Solution:

When first looking at this problem, we must consider the fact that 0.99999999/1.0001 and 0.99999991/1.0003 are both pretty nasty-looking fractions. However, this is a situation in which we can use the idea of the difference of two squares to our advantage. To make this idea a little clearer, let's first illustrate the concept with a few easier whole numbers. For instance, let's say we were asked:

999,999/1,001 - 9,991/103 = ?

We could rewrite this as:

(1,000,000 - 1)/1,001 - (10,000 - 9)/103

(1000 + 1)(1000 - 1)/1,001 - (100 - 3)(100 + 3)/103

(1,001)(999)/1,001 - (97)(103)/103

999 - 97 = 902

Notice how cleanly the denominators canceled out in this case. Even though the given problem has decimal numbers, we can follow the same approach.

0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003

[(1 - 0.00000001)/1.0001] - [(1 - 0.00000009)/1.0003]

[(1 - 0.0001)(1 + 0.0001)/1.0001] - [(1 - 0.0003)(1 + 0.0003)]

When converting this using the difference of squares, we must be very careful not to make any mistakes with the number of decimal places in our values. Since 0.00000001
has 8 decimal places, the decimals in the factors of the numerator of the first set of brackets must each have 4 decimal places. Similarly, since 0.00000009 has 8 decimal places, the decimals in the factors of the numerator of the second set of brackets must each have 4 decimal places. Let's continue to simplify.

[(1 - 0.0001)(1 + 0.0001)/1.0001] - [(1 - 0.0003)(1 + 0.0003)]

[(0.9999)(1.0001)/1.0001] - [(0.9997)(1.0003)/1.0003]

0.9999 - 0.9997

0.0002

Converting this to scientific notation to match the answer choices, we have:

2 x 10^-4

Answer: D