What is the scientific notation for 0.075 meters?

What is the scientific notation for 0.075 meters?

• A. 7.5 x 10^-2 m
• B. 7.5 x 10^2 m
• C. 0.075 x 10^-1 m
• D. 75 x 10^-3 m

Answer: (A)

Expressing a small number in scientific notation means choosing a coefficient between 1 and 10 and a power of ten that accounts for shifting the decimal. 0.075 m becomes 7.5 × 10^-2 m. Move the decimal two places to the right to get 7.5, and compensate by multiplying by 10^-2 (since you divided by 100 overall). The exponent is negative because the original value is less than 1. This form is the standard way to write the number. Other expressions either place the decimal incorrectly or use a coefficient outside the 1–10 range, even though they may represent the same value; for example, 75 × 10^-3 m equals 0.075 m but is not in proper scientific notation.

Expressing a small number in scientific notation means choosing a coefficient between 1 and 10 and a power of ten that accounts for shifting the decimal.

0.075 m becomes 7.5 × 10^-2 m. Move the decimal two places to the right to get 7.5, and compensate by multiplying by 10^-2 (since you divided by 100 overall). The exponent is negative because the original value is less than 1.

This form is the standard way to write the number. Other expressions either place the decimal incorrectly or use a coefficient outside the 1–10 range, even though they may represent the same value; for example, 75 × 10^-3 m equals 0.075 m but is not in proper scientific notation.