Which of the following expresses 673.5 in scientific notation?

• A. 0.6735 × 10^{3}
• B. 6735 × 10^{-1}
• C. 67.35 × 10^{1}
• D. 6.735 × 10^{2}

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that scientific notation expresses a number as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10, i.e., \(a \times 10^{n}\) where \$1 \leq a < 10\( and \)n$ is an integer.
2. Look at the given number 673.5 and identify how to rewrite it so that the coefficient (the number before the \(\times 10^{n}\)) is between 1 and 10.
3. To convert 673.5 to scientific notation, move the decimal point two places to the left to get 6.735, which is between 1 and 10.
4. Since you moved the decimal point two places to the left, multiply by \$10^{2}\( to keep the value equivalent, so the scientific notation is \)6.735 \times 10^{2}$.
5. Compare this with the given options to confirm that \$6.735 \times 10^{2}$ is the correct scientific notation for 673.5.