Multiple Choice
The area of Greenland is 840,000 square miles. What is this number in scientific notation?
a) 8.4 x 10^5 square miles
b) 8.4 x 10^6 square miles
c) 8.4 x 10^7 square miles
d) 8.4 x 10^8 square miles
The correct answer is d) 8.4 x 10^8 square miles.
To express a number in scientific notation, we need to write it in the form of a decimal number between 1 and 10, multiplied by 10 raised to a power.
Given that the area of Greenland is 840,000 square miles, we can write it as 8.4 × 10^5.
Therefore, the number 840,000 in scientific notation is 8.4 × 10^5.
To convert a number into scientific notation, you need to express it in the form of "a × 10^b", where "a" is a decimal number greater than or equal to 1 but less than 10, and "b" is an integer representing the number of places you need to move the decimal point to get the original number.
In this case, the given area of Greenland is 840,000 square miles.
To convert this number into scientific notation, follow these steps:
Step 1: Determine the decimal number "a":
To express 840,000 as a decimal number between 1 and 10, we can divide it by 100,000:
840,000 ÷ 100,000 = 8.4
So, "a" is equal to 8.4.
Step 2: Determine the exponent "b":
Count the number of places you moved the decimal point to obtain the decimal number "a". In this case, you moved the decimal point five places to the left (from 840,000 to 8.4).
So, "b" is equal to -5.
Step 3: Write the number in scientific notation:
Combining "a" and "b", we can express 840,000 in scientific notation as:
8.4 × 10^(-5)
Therefore, in scientific notation, the area of Greenland is 8.4 × 10^(-5) square miles.