Question

How do you write `15 800` in scientific notation?

Answer 1

`1.58 xx 10^4`

Explanation:

A number in scientific notation is in the form

`a xx 10^b`

where

`1 <= a < 10`

To transform a number to scientific notation, we need to shift its decimal point until we satisfy the above condition. The number of places shifted by the decimal point would determine the value of `b` while the direction of the shift would determine `b`'s sign

If we shifted the decimal place to the right, the sign should be negative. If we shifted to the left, the sign should be positive.

In the question, we need to write 15800 in scientific notation.
To do this, we need to shift the decimal point 4 places to the left.

`b = -4`

`15800 = 1.58 xx 10^4`