Final answer:
To represent 45320 kN within a range of 0.1 to 1000, we convert it to meganewtons, obtaining 45.320 MN, which is expressed to five significant figures with the appropriate unit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked to represent the force of 45320 kN (kilonewtons) using a metric prefix that results in a number between 0.1 and 1000. In order to do so, we need to select an appropriate prefix that, when combined with the given number, falls within the specified range. Looking at the metric prefixes and the value in question, the best choice would be the meganewton (MN), where 1 MN equals 1,000 kN.
We then convert 45320 kN to MN by dividing by 1,000 (since 1 MN = 1,000 kN). This results in 45.320 MN. For proper significant figures, we must express this value to five significant figures. Therefore, the final answer is 45.320 MN, since '45320' has five significant figures to begin with, and no rounding is necessary when converting to MN.
Expressing answers with the correct number of significant figures and proper units ensures that the precision of the answer is consistent with the precision of the provided data.