Final answer:
The numbers in order from least to greatest, considering their scientific notation, are 9.7 x 10⁻⁶ (the smallest), followed by 4.5 x 10⁰, and then 1.67 x 10⁴ (the largest), making option C the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering these three numbers written in scientific notation: 1.67 x 10⁴, 9.7 x 10⁻⁶, 4.5 x 10⁰, ordering them from least to greatest involves comparing their exponents. A larger exponent denotes a larger number when the base (in this case 10) is greater than 1. Conversely, a negative exponent indicates a number less than 1. Therefore, 9.7 x 10⁻⁶ is the smallest number, since it has the smallest exponent, followed by 4.5 x 10⁰ (which is essentially 4.5), and then 1.67 x 10⁴ being the largest number with the largest positive exponent.
The correct order from least to greatest is:
- 9.7 x 10⁻⁶
- 4.5 x 10⁰
- 1.67 x 10⁴
So the correct answer is option C) 1.67 x 10⁴, 4.5 x 10⁰, 9.7 x 10⁻⁶.