In scientific notation, how is a number represented?

In scientific notation, a number is represented as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10. This format allows for a clear and concise representation of very large or very small numbers. For instance, the number 5,800 can be written in scientific notation as 5.8 × 10^3. Here, 5.8 is the number that lies between 1 and 10, and 10^3 indicates that the decimal point in 5.8 is moved three places to the right, thus scaling it up to 5,800.

This way of representation is particularly useful in scientific and mathematical contexts, as it simplifies computations and allows for easier comparisons between quantities. The other options do not correctly represent the format of scientific notation. Some may suggest other forms of number representation, but they do not align with the normalized expression that characterizes scientific notation.