Which of the following represents the correct scientific notation for the number 200?

• A. 0.2 × 10^3
• B. 2.0 × 10^2
• C. 200 × 10^0
• D. 20 × 10^1

Answer: (B)

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, in the form \(a \times 10^{n}\) where \$1 \leq a < 10\( and \)n$ is an integer.
2. Look at the number 200 and identify how to write it as \(a \times 10^{n}\) with \(a\) between 1 and 10. For example, 200 can be written as 2.00 multiplied by a power of 10.
3. Determine the exponent \(n\) by counting how many places the decimal point moves to convert 200 into a number between 1 and 10. Moving the decimal point two places to the left converts 200 to 2.00.
4. Express 200 in scientific notation as \$2.00 \times 10^{2}\(, since moving the decimal two places to the left corresponds to multiplying by \)10^{2}$.
5. Compare this with the given options to identify which one matches the correct scientific notation format, ensuring the coefficient is between 1 and 10.