Final answer:
The correct leading coefficient for the scientific notation of the number 0.0000201 is 2.01 (option a), resulting in the scientific notation 2.01 × 10^-5.
Step-by-step explanation:
The goal is to express the number 0.0000201 in scientific notation, which is a way of writing numbers that are too large or too small to be conveniently written in decimal form. Scientific notation has the form N × 10^n, where N is the leading coefficient greater than or equal to 1 and less than 10, and n is an integer.
To convert 0.0000201 to scientific notation, you move the decimal point until the number is between 1 and 10, and count the number of places the decimal has moved. Here, we move the decimal point 5 places to the right to get 2.01. Thus, the scientific notation for 0.0000201 is 2.01 × 10^-5. The leading coefficient is the number we are left with after adjusting the decimal point, in this case, 2.01.
Therefore, among the options given, the correct leading coefficient is: (a) 2.01.