Sam is comparing the half-life of two isotopes of uranium. The half-life of Uranium-238 is 4.5 x 10^9 years. The half-life of Uranium -233 is 1.6 x 10^5 years. He computed how much greater the half-life of Uranium-238 is than that of Uranium-233, and his calculator displayed the number 2.81E4. What is this number in scientific notation? (1 point)

4 x 10^2.81
2.81 x 10^4
2.81 + 10^4
2.81 x 10^-4

The number 2.81E4 is already in scientific notation. It is equivalent to 2.81 x 10^4.