Which of the following is the correct scientific notation for 0.00086?

• A. 8.6 × 10^{-3}
• B. 0.86 × 10^{-3}
• C. 8.6 × 10^{-4}
• D. 8.6 × 10^{4}

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the decimal number given: 0.00086.
2. Recall 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.
3. To convert 0.00086 to scientific notation, move the decimal point to the right until only one non-zero digit remains to the left of the decimal point. Count how many places you move the decimal point; this count will be the negative exponent of 10 because the original number is less than 1.
4. Express the number as \$8.6 \times 10^{n}\(, where \)n$ is the negative number of places the decimal point was moved.
5. Compare your result with the given options to select the correct scientific notation.