Which of the following is the best estimate for 0.00056 written in scientific notation?

• A. 0.56 × 10^{-3}
• B. 56 × 10^{-5}
• C. 5.6 × 10^{-4}
• D. 5.6 × 10^{4}

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. 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.
2. Start with the given number: 0.00056. To write it in scientific notation, move the decimal point to the right until you have a number between 1 and 10.
3. Count how many places you move the decimal point. For 0.00056, moving the decimal point 4 places to the right gives 5.6.
4. Since you moved the decimal point 4 places to the right, the exponent on 10 will be negative 4, because moving right corresponds to a negative power of 10.
5. Therefore, the scientific notation form is \$5.6 \times 10^{-4}$, which matches the correct answer.