Final answer:
To find the sum of (7.3 × 10^6) and (4.6 × 10^5) in scientific notation, rewrite (4.6 × 10^5) as (0.46 × 10^6), then add the decimal parts, resulting in (7.76 × 10^6), which is option a).
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to find the sum of two numbers provided in scientific notation: (7.3 × 106) and (4.6 × 105), and to write the final answer in proper scientific notation.
First, we need to express both numbers with the same exponent on the 10. We can rewrite (4.6 × 105) as (0.46 × 106) to match the exponent of the other number. Now we have:
(7.3 × 106) + (0.46 × 106)
Adding the decimal parts together gives us:
(7.3 + 0.46) × 106 = 7.76 × 106
Therefore, the sum in proper scientific notation is (7.76 × 106), which corresponds to option a).