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

Question

0.153 × 10^5
0.153 × 10^-5
1.53 x 10^4
1.53 × 10^-4

Answer 1

To write the radius of Neptune, which is approximately 15,300 miles, in scientific notation, we need to express it in the form \( a \times 10^n \), where \( 1 \leq a < 10 \) and \( n \) is an integer.

First, we convert 15,300 into a number between 1 and 10 by placing the decimal point:

15,300 can be written as 1.53 (moving the decimal point 4 places to the left).

Now, since we moved the decimal point 4 places to the left, we multiply by \( 10^4 \):

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

Thus, the correct answer is:

1.53 x 10^4.