Final answer:
A hippopotamus can weigh up to 4,500 pounds, which is written in scientific notation as 4.5 × 10^3. None of the provided options correctly represent this weight, as they all suggest much larger numbers. Scientific notation is used to simplify the representation of very large or small numbers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to converting weights to scientific notation in the subject of mathematics. When considering the weight of a hippopotamus, we need to be aware that they can weigh up to 4,500 pounds. To write this number in scientific notation, we find the decimal point such that there’s one non-zero digit to its left, and the resulting number is between 1 and 10. This gives us 4.5. Then, we count how many places we move the decimal point to get from 4,500 to 4.5, which is three places. Therefore, in scientific notation, a hippopotamus can weigh up to 4.5 × 103 pounds.
From the provided choices, none of them correctly represent the weight of a hippopotamus in scientific notation as they all signify much larger weights than what a hippopotamus would weigh. So, if we had to choose the closest incorrect option, it would be a) 2.1 × 106, but it's important to note that this is still significantly higher than the actual weight.
Writing numbers in scientific notation is very useful, especially when dealing with large or small numbers, as it makes them easier to work with and understand. The standard form for scientific notation is A × 10n, where A is a number between 1 and 10, and n is an integer.