Question

The speed of light is approximately 299,000,000 meters per second.

What is the speed of the light, in meters per second, using scientific notation?

Answer 1

2.99 x 10⁸ meters per second

Explanation:

Scientific notation (also called "Standard form") is written in the form of
`a * 10^n`, where
`1\leq a < 10` and
`n` is any positive or negative whole number.

To convert a number into scientific notation, move the decimal point to the left or right until there is one digit before the decimal point.

The number of times you have moved the decimal point is the power of 10 (
`n`).

If the decimal point has moved to the left, the power is positive.

If the decimal point has moved to the right, the power is negative.

To convert the given number to scientific notation

The decimal point for the given number 299000000 is after the last zero:

⇒ 299000000.

Move the decimal point 8 places to the left:

⇒ 2.99000000

Get rid of the redundant zeros:

⇒ 2.99

Multiply by 10 to the power of the number of decimal places moved:

⇒ 2.99 x 10⁸

Therefore, the speed of light using scientific notation is:

• 2.99 x 10⁸ meters per second