How do you solve this

We are given that a certain continent is \(3.8 \times 10^{16} \text{in}^2\) and that \(1 \text{mi}^2 = 4.0 \times 10^9 \text{in}^2\).

Another way to write that is \(1 = \frac{\text{mi}^2}{4.0 \times 10^9 \text{in}^2\).

So, to figure the area in square miles, we multiply the two together to get: \(3.8 \times 10^{16} \text{in}^2 \times \frac{\text{mi}^2}{4.0 \times 10^9 \text{in}^2}\\
= \frac{3.8 \times 10^{16} \text{mi}^2}{4 \times 10^9}\)

Now, there are two ways to simplify \(\frac{3.8 \times 10^{16} \text{mi}^2}{4 \times 10^9}\)

\((1) \frac{3.8 \times 10^{16} \text{mi}^2}{4 \times 10^9} = \frac{38 \times 10^{15} }{4 \times 10^9}\text{mi}^2 = ( \frac{38}{4} )( \frac{10^{15}}{10^9})\text{mi}^2 = (9.5)(10^{6})\text{mi}^2 = 9.5\times10^6 \text{mi}^2\)

\((2) \frac{3.8 \times 10^{16} \text{mi}^2}{4 \times 10^9} = ( \frac{3.8}{4.0} )( \frac{10^{16}}{10^9})\text{mi}^2 = (.95)(10^{7})\text{mi}^2 = 9.5\times10^6 \text{mi}^2\)

A quick google search tells me the continent in question is North America