Final answer:
To order the numbers from least to greatest, arrange them based on their exponents in scientific notation: 1.4 x 10⁻², 1.4 x 10⁻¹, 1.5 x 10³, and 2 x 10⁴.
Step-by-step explanation:
The order of the given numbers from least to greatest is as follows:
- 1.4 x 10⁻²
- 1.4 x 10⁻¹
- 1.5 x 10³
- 2 x 10⁴
We can determine the order by looking at the exponents of the scientific notation, which indicate the magnitude of the number. Smaller exponents (especially negative ones) mean the number is smaller, while larger exponents indicate a larger number. In scientific notation, a negative exponent means the number is a fraction (less than one), while a positive exponent means the number is greater than one.