Final answer:
Option (a), The operation (4 × 10^5) / (8 × 10^-3) results in 5 × 10^7 in scientific notation, and 50,000,000 in standard notation.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the result of the operation (4 × 10^5) / (8 × 10^-3), you first divide the numerical coefficients and then subtract the exponents of the powers of ten according to the laws of exponents. Performing the division of coefficients gives 4 / 8 = 0.5.
For the exponents, you subtract the exponents from the denominator from those in the numerator: 5 - (-3) = 5 + 3 = 8. Thus, the expression simplifies to 0.5 × 10^8, which can be written in proper scientific notation as 5 × 10^7.
Next, to convert scientific notation to standard notation, you move the decimal point to the right the number of times equal to the exponent when the exponent is positive. So, 5 × 10^7 becomes 50,000,000.
Therefore, the answer to the operation in scientific notation is 5 × 10^7, and in standard notation, the answer is 50,000,000.