Question

Check my answer? Based upon the 2010 census data, the total population of the U.S. is 308,745,538 people. Approximately, what is this population in scientific notation? (Options)
**3.1 x 10^8****3.1 x 10^7****3.1 x 10^-8****31 x 10 ^7**

Answer 1

Your right answer is A.

Answer 2

Answer : The correct answer is, $3.1\times 10^{8}$

Step-by-step explanation :

Scientific notation : It is the representation of expressing the numbers that are too big or too small and are represented in the decimal form with one digit before the decimal point times 10 raise to the power.  The numerical digit lies between 0.1.... to 9.9.....

For example :

5000 is written as $5.0\times 10^3$

889.9 is written as $8.899\times 10^{-2}$

In this examples, 5000 and 889.9 are written in the standard notation and $5.0\times 10^3$  and $8.899\times 10^{-2}$  are written in the scientific notation.

If the decimal is shifting to right side, the power of 10 is negative and if the decimal is shifting to left side, the power of 10 is positive.

As we are given the 308,745,538 in standard notation.

Now converting this into scientific notation, we get:

$\Rightarrow 308,745,538=3.1\times 10^{8}$

As, the decimal point is shifting to left side, thus the power of 10 is positive.

Hence, the correct answer is, $3.1\times 10^{8}$