Question

How do you write `204,000,000` in scientific notation?

Answer 1

`2.04xx10^8`

Explanation:

A number in scientific notation has the form:
`axx10^b`, where `abs(a)<10`

`a` can be found by taking every number from the first non-zero number to the last non-zero number, in this case:
`color(red)(204),000,000`.

And since `abs(a)<10` we make `a=2.04`

Now to find `b`, we find the number of digits between the first number and including the last number:
`2color(green)(04),color(green)(000),color(green)(000)`, there are `color(green)(8)` numbers after the `2`. So `b=8`

Therefore out number is `2.04xx10^8`