What is the first step in writing a large number in scientific notation?

What is the first step in writing a large number in scientific notation?

• A. Move the decimal point to the left by the number of zeros
• B. Round to the nearest integer
• C. Write the number as a simple multiplication problem with the first number being ≥ 1 and < 10
• D. Write the number in standard form

Answer: (C)

Expressing a number in scientific notation starts by turning it into a product where the leading factor is between 1 and 10. The first step is to move the decimal so that the left-hand factor is greater than or equal to 1 but less than 10. The number of places you move the decimal becomes the exponent of 10. For example, 3,420,000 becomes 3.42 × 10^6. This shows why the correct approach is to write the number as a simple multiplication with the first factor between 1 and 10. Rounding would change the value, and standard form is the final result rather than the initial step. Merely moving the decimal by zeros isn’t universally correct; the essential step is establishing a coefficient in [1, 10) before applying the power of ten.

Expressing a number in scientific notation starts by turning it into a product where the leading factor is between 1 and 10. The first step is to move the decimal so that the left-hand factor is greater than or equal to 1 but less than 10. The number of places you move the decimal becomes the exponent of 10. For example, 3,420,000 becomes 3.42 × 10^6. This shows why the correct approach is to write the number as a simple multiplication with the first factor between 1 and 10. Rounding would change the value, and standard form is the final result rather than the initial step. Merely moving the decimal by zeros isn’t universally correct; the essential step is establishing a coefficient in [1, 10) before applying the power of ten.