Which of the following correctly expresses the average distance from Earth to the Moon (384,400,000 meters) in scientific notation?

• A. 3.844 × 10^{9} meters
• B. 3.844 × 10^{6} meters
• C. 3.844 × 10^{8} meters
• D. 3.844 × 10^{7} meters

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the given number: 384,400,000 meters, which is the average distance from Earth to the Moon.
2. Recall 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.
3. Rewrite 384,400,000 by moving the decimal point to the left until only one non-zero digit remains to the left of the decimal point. Count how many places you move the decimal point.
4. Express the number as \$3.844 \times 10^{n}\(, where \)n$ is the number of places the decimal point was moved to the left.
5. Compare the exponent \(n\) with the options given to select the correct scientific notation.