Question

How do you use scientific notation to express the number 355000 to one significant figure?

Answer 1

The answer is `4xx10^5`.

Explanation:

Numbers written in scientific notation have a coefficient which begins with a single non-zero digit, 1-9 inclusive. That number is then multiplied by the base 10 raised to a power (exponent). If the decimal was moved to the right, the exponent will be negative, such as `0.03=3xx10^(-2)`. If the decimal was moved to the left, the exponent will be positive, such as `400=4xx10^2`.

The exponent indicates how to expand the number to standard notation. If it is positive, move the decimal to the right the same number of places, such as `4xx10^2=400`. If it is negative, move the decimal to the left the same number of places, such as `3xx10^(-2)=0.03`.

Round `355000` to one significant figure by rounding to `400000`. To use scientific number to express this number, move the decimal point to the left 5 places, and write the number as `4xx10^5`.

The following website may be helpful. https://www.nyu.edu/pages/mathmol/textbook/scinot.html