Roughly, it takes light less than 0.000000003 of a second to travel a one-meter distance. Express this number in the form of a x 10^n where 1 < a < 10 and is a one-digit number.
A. 3 x 10^-9
B. 3 x 10^9
C. 3 x 10^8
D. 3 x 10^-8
The number is 3 x 10^-9.
To express the given number in the form of a x 10^n, we need to move the decimal point 9 places to the left since it takes light less than 0.000000003 of a second to travel a one-meter distance.
This gives us the number 0.000000003.
To convert this number into the desired format, we can express it as 3 x 10^-9.
So the correct option is A. 3 x 10^-9.
To express the given number in scientific notation, we need to rewrite it in the form a x 10^n where "a" is a number between 1 and 10 (exclusive) and "n" is an integer.
The given number is less than 0.000000003. To rewrite it as "a x 10^n," we need to move the decimal point to the right until only one nonzero digit remains to the left of the decimal point.
To do this, we move the decimal point 9 places to the right, resulting in 0.000000003 becoming 3.0. Since 3 is between 1 and 10, our "a" value is 3.
The decimal point moved 9 places, so "n" is -9.
Thus, the number 0.000000003 can be expressed as 3 x 10^-9.
Therefore, the correct answer is A. 3 x 10^-9.