Final answer:
The sum of 9902 m and 201 m is 10103 m, which when expressed in scientific notation with the correct number of significant digits is 1.010 × 10³ m. The provided answer choices do not match this result.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer the student's question about adding 9902 m + 201 m, we first perform the addition as normal and then convert the result into scientific notation. Adding the two numbers gives us 9902 m + 201 m = 10103 m. Now, to express 10103 in scientific notation, we move the decimal three places to the left (since it's understood to be after the last digit), resulting in 1.0103. Then we multiply this by 10 raised to the power of the number of places we moved the decimal, which is 3 in this case. This gives us 1.0103 × 10³ m. However, we must also round to the correct number of significant digits, which, based on the original numbers provided (9902 and 201, each with four significant digits), results in 1.010 × 10³ m. None of the answer choices (A through D) correctly reflect this answer with the right number of significant digits, so there may be an error in the provided options or in the transcription of the question.