Use scientific notation to determine which of these numbers has the least value: 98,789,000; 987,890,000; or 89,987,000. Write your answer in scientific notation, expressed to the exact decimal place.(1 point)

Answer 1

To express the numbers in scientific notation, we can convert each number as follows:

1. 98,789,000 \[ 98,789,000 = 9.8789 \times 10^7 \]

2. 987,890,000 \[ 987,890,000 = 9.8789 \times 10^8 \]

3. 89,987,000 \[ 89,987,000 = 8.9987 \times 10^7 \]

Next, we can compare these numbers in scientific notation. The order of magnitude (the exponent) plays a key role, so we can compare the numbers based on their coefficients and the power of ten:

• 98,789,000 is \( 9.8789 \times 10^7 \)
• 987,890,000 is \( 9.8789 \times 10^8 \)
• 89,987,000 is \( 8.9987 \times 10^7 \)

Now we compare the coefficients for those in \( 10^7 \):

• \( 9.8789 \) (from 98,789,000)
• \( 8.9987 \) (from 89,987,000)

Since \( 8.9987 < 9.8789 \), we find that \( 89,987,000 \) has the least value of the three numbers.

Thus, the number with the least value in scientific notation is:

\[ \boxed{8.9987 \times 10^7} \]