To express the number 18,000 in scientific notation, follow these steps:
1. Identify the Significant Figures:
First, identify the significant figures in the number. For 18,000, the significant figures are 1.8, as the non-zero numbers are 1 and 8.
2. Place the Decimal Point:
Next, place the decimal point after the first significant figure. For 18,000, this placement makes the number 1.8.
3. Determine the Exponent:
Determine the power of 10 that would be needed to convert 1.8 back to the original number, 18,000.
Since 18,000 is equivalent to 1.8 multiplied by 10,000, and 10,000 is [tex]\( 10^4 \)[/tex], you need to multiply 1.8 by [tex]\( 10^4 \)[/tex].
4. Construct the Scientific Notation:
Combining the coefficient (1.8) with the power of 10 ([tex]\( 10^4 \)[/tex]), the number 18,000 can be represented in scientific notation as [tex]\( 1.8 \times 10^4 \)[/tex].
Therefore, 18,000 expressed in scientific notation is:
[tex]\[ 1.8 \times 10^4 \][/tex]
Among the given options, the correct answer is:
[tex]\[ 1.8 \times 10^4 \][/tex]
