Question

Of the following numbers in scientific notation, what is the coefficient of the smallest number: 1.2×10^7, 6.2×10^3, 3.8×10^10?

Answer 1

To compare the coefficients, we have to arrange the numbers with their exponents in descending order. Doing so, we obtain $3.8 \times 10^{10}, 1.2 \times 10^{7}, 6.2 \times 10^{3}$. Hence, the smallest coefficient is $\boxed{1.2}$.