Final answer:
2.38×105 is greater than 3.07×104 because 238,000 is larger than 30,700. The correct comparison is 2.38×105 > 3.07×104.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks us to compare two numbers that are written in scientific notation: whether 2.38×105 is greater than, less than, or equal to 3.07×104. To compare them, we look at the powers of 10 because they are the most significant factor determining the size of the number.
2.38×105 means 2.38 times 10 to the power of 5, which is equivalent to 238,000. On the other hand, 3.07×104 corresponds to 3.07 times 10 to the power of 4, which is 30,700. Since 238,000 is much larger than 30,700, we conclude that 2.38×105 is greater than 3.07×104.
The correct symbol to place between the two numbers in the comparison is "><". The complete comparison is 2.38×105 > 3.07×104.