To write the number 0.00000878 in scientific notation, you want to express it in the form of:
\[ a \times 10^n \]
where \( 1 \leq a < 10 \) and \( n \) is an integer.
- First, identify the significant figures: 8.78
- Then, to express 8.78 in the form required, we move the decimal point to the left 6 places to have:
\[ 8.78 \]
Thus, it becomes:
\[ 8.78 \times 10^{-6} \]
So, the number 0.00000878 in scientific notation is:
\[ 8.78 \times 10^{-6} \]