To express the number 14,503 in scientific notation, follow these steps:
1. Identify the Significant Figures:
Locate the significant figures in the number 14,503. These are the digits that carry meaning and contribute to the value of the number. Here, they are 1, 4, 5, 0, and 3.
2. Place the Decimal Point:
Position the decimal point after the first non-zero digit, which in this case is after the digit 1. This gives us 1.4503.
3. Determine the Power of 10:
Count how many places the decimal point has moved to get from the original number to where it is now placed. The original number was 14,503 (written as 14503.0 for understanding purposes), and the decimal point was originally at the end. Moving it to between 1 and 4 means moving it 4 places to the left.
Since we moved the decimal 4 places to the left, the exponent will be positive 4.
4. Assemble the Scientific Notation:
Combining the significant figures 1.4503 with the power of 10, we get:
[tex]\[
1.4503 \times 10^4
\][/tex]
Hence, the number 14,503 expressed in scientific notation is:
[tex]\[
1.4503 \times 10^4
\][/tex]
Therefore, the correct answer is:
B. [tex]\(\$1.4503 \times 10^4\)[/tex]
