The radius of the planet Neptune is approximately 15,300 miles. How is this number of miles written in scientific notation?

Question

Circle the correct answer.
(A) 0.153 X 105
(B) 0.153 X 10-5
(C) 1.53 X 104
(D) 1.53 X 10-4
Use select mode to select your answer here also.
1 Pt
0000

Answer 1

To express the radius of Neptune, which is approximately 15,300 miles, in scientific notation, we need to move the decimal point so that the number is between 1 and 10.

15,300 can be rewritten as 1.53 when we move the decimal point two places to the left. Since we moved the decimal two places, we multiply by \(10^4\) (as moving the decimal to the left increases the exponent):

So, \(15,300 = 1.53 \times 10^{4}\).

Thus, the correct answer is:

(C) 1.53 X 10^4