College

Which choice correctly expresses the number 145,000 in scientific notation?

A. [tex]1.45 \cdot 10^6[/tex]

B. [tex]145 \cdot 10^3[/tex]

C. [tex]145 \cdot 10^5[/tex]

D. [tex]1.45 \cdot 10^4[/tex]

E. [tex]1.45 \cdot 10^5[/tex]

F. [tex]14.5 \cdot 10^4[/tex]

Answer :

To express the number 145,000 in scientific notation, we need to follow these steps:

1. Identify the Significant Figures: Begin by identifying the most significant digits of the number. For 145,000, these would be '1.45'.

2. Determine the Power of Ten: Count how many places the decimal point must be moved to the left to get from the original number to a number between 1 and 10. For 145,000, you move the decimal point 5 places to the left: 145,000 becomes 1.45.

3. Express in Scientific Notation: Combine the significant figures with the power of ten. Since we moved the decimal 5 places, this is expressed as [tex]\(1.45 \times 10^5\)[/tex].

Therefore, the correct choice that expresses 145,000 in scientific notation is:

E. [tex]\(1.45 \cdot 10^5\)[/tex]