Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology (12th Edition)

1GST

To determine: The percentage or fraction of geological timescale that is represented by the recorded history of human kind.

To determine: The percentage or fraction of geological timescale that is represented by the recorded history of human kind.

Answer: The percentage or fraction of geological timescale that is represented by the recorded history of human kind is 0.000001% or 1 1000000 .

Answer:
The percentage or fraction of geological timescale that is represented by the recorded history of human kind is 0.000001% or 
<m:math><m:mrow><m:mfrac><m:mn>1</m:mn><m:mrow><m:mn>1000000</m:mn></m:mrow></m:mfrac></m:mrow>
</m:math>.

Explanation: Given info: The length of recorded history for humankind is about 5000 years. The age of the earth is 4.5 billion years. Rounding it to the nearest billion, the age of the earth is 5 billion years. Therefore, the fraction of geological timescale that is represented by the recorded history of human kind is 1 1000000 and this can be expressed in terms of percentage as 0.000001 % .

Explanation:
Given info:
The length of recorded history for humankind is about 5000 years.
The age of the earth is 4.5 billion years.
Rounding it to the nearest billion, the age of the earth is 5 billion years.
Therefore, the fraction of geological timescale that is represented by the recorded history of human kind is 
<m:math><m:mrow><m:mfrac><m:mn>1</m:mn><m:mrow><m:mn>1000000</m:mn></m:mrow></m:mfrac></m:mrow>
</m:math> and this can be expressed in terms of percentage as 
<m:math><m:mrow><m:mn>0.000001</m:mn><m:mi>&#x0025;</m:mi></m:mrow>
</m:math>.

To determine: The percentage or fraction of geological timescale that is represented by the recorded history of human kind.

Answer

Explanation of Solution