just calculate the value and you'll get 1,280
Step 1
To find a, take the number and move a decimal place to the right one position.
Original Number: 1,280
New Number: 1.280
Step 2
Now, to find b, count how many places to the right of the decimal.
New Number: 1 . 2 8 0
Decimal Count: 1 2 3
There are 3 places to the right of the decimal place.
Step 3
Building upon what we know above, we can now reconstruct the number into scientific notation.
Remember, the notation is: a x 10b
a = 1.28 (Please notice any zeroes on the end have been removed)
b = 3
Now the whole thing:
1.28 x 103
Step 4
Check your work:
103 = 1,000 x 1.28 = 1,280
1.28 x 103
so its 1.28 x 103