which has a higher total magnification, the compound microscope or the dissecting microscope
Compound Microscopes are available in Monocular, Binocular, and Trinocular configurations. They have many objectives of varying magnifications that are mounted in a rotating nosepiece. Typically, the range of magnification on a Compound Microscope is between 40x and 1000x. For higher magnification (for example, 10x eyepiece x 40x objective = 400x or total magnification) a mechanical stage is recommended. Some Compound Microscopes are capable of lower or higher magnifications. Because only one objective is used at a time, the viewer will see a two-dimensional image of the specimen. Common uses for Compound Microscopes are for biological applications that include high magnification of internal cell structures such as plant, animal, and human tissue or blood. For entry level student microscope use, refer to the Monocular Microscopes; also, for biological applications for medical, laboratory and research, refer to Binocular Microscopes.