Final answer:
The number 0.375 is classified as a rational number because it can be expressed as the fraction 3/8, with both the numerator and denominator being integers and the denominator not equal to zero.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct classification of the number 0.375 is that it is a rational number. A rational number is any number that can be expressed as the quotient or fraction p/q of two integers, with the denominator q not equal to zero. In the case of 0.375, it can be written as 375/1000, which simplifies to 3/8. Since both 3 and 8 are integers and the denominator is not zero, 0.375 is indeed rational.
Numbers that can be expressed as exact fractions or decimals are rational numbers. Additionally, scientific notation is often used for very small or very large numbers to represent them as a fraction multiplied by a power of ten, which is another form of rational expression. Even though the provided references discuss powers, significant figures, and scientific notation, the basic principle of what constitutes a rational number remains grounded in its capability to be represented as a fraction of integers.