High School

What is the correct way to write [tex]$1,550,000,000$[/tex] in scientific notation?

A. [tex]$1.55 \times 10^9$[/tex]
B. [tex]$1.55 \times 10^{10}$[/tex]
C. [tex]$15.5 \times 10^8$[/tex]
D. [tex]$15.5 \times 10^9$[/tex]

Answer :

To write the number [tex]$1,550,000,000$[/tex] in scientific notation, follow these steps:

1. Identify the Significant Figures: Start with the number [tex]$1,550,000,000$[/tex]. You want to express it such that there's only one non-zero digit to the left of the decimal point. Therefore, you take the digits "1.55" as the significant figures.

2. Determine the Power of 10: Next, count how many places you move the decimal to get from "1.55" to the original number "1,550,000,000". The decimal point in "1.55" would move 9 places to the right to reach "1,550,000,000".

3. Write in Scientific Notation: As a result, the scientific notation is based on these steps. You place the significant figures before and multiply by 10 raised to the power equal to the number of places moved. This gives you:
[tex]\[
1.55 \times 10^9
\][/tex]

Therefore, the correct way to write [tex]$1,550,000,000$[/tex] in scientific notation is [tex]\( 1.55 \times 10^9 \)[/tex].