If the average American throws away 4.5 lb of trash each day, and the population of the US is estimated to be 311 million people, calculated the number of metric tons of garbage thrown away in the US each year. (1 metric ton (t) = 1000 kg, assume 365 days in a year)

2.32 * 10⁸ t

Explanation:

The average American throws away 4.5 lb of trash each day, and the population of the US is estimated to be 311 million people. The garbage thrown away in the US each day is:

311 * 10⁶ p * (4.5 lb/1 p) = 1.40 * 10⁹ lb

1.40 * 10⁹ pounds are thrown away each day. The garbage that is thrown away each year (365 days) is:

365 day * (1.40 * 10⁹ lb/1 day) = 5.11 * 10¹¹ lb

1 kilogram is equal to 2.20 pounds. Then,

5.11 * 10¹¹ lb * (1 kg/2.20 lb) = 2.32 * 10¹¹ kg

1 metric ton (t) is equal to 1000 kg. Then,

2.32 * 10¹¹ kg * (1 t/1000 kg) = 2.32 * 10⁸ t