Question

The speed of light in a vacuum is 299,792,458 meters per second. Which number written in scientific notation is the best approximation of the speed of light

Answer 1

Answer: The best approximation of the speed of light would be $3.0\times10^8$ meters per second.

Step-by-step explanation:

Scientific notation is a famous way to express a very large or a very small number as the product of a decimal form of number ( between 1 and 10) and powers of ten.

For example 1300000 can be written as $1.3\times10^6$.

Given : The speed of light in a vacuum is 299,792,458 meters per second.

Total digits = 9

Power of ten = 9-1=8

Now , the speed of light in a vacuum can be expressed as $2.99792458\times10^8$  meters per second.

Since $2.99792458\approx3.0$

So , the best approximation of the speed of light would be $3.0\times10^8$ meters per second.

Answer 2

We don't see the choices but the answer will be something like

$2.99792458 \times 10^{8} \textrm{ m/s}$