Question

nitrogen and oxygen are the most abundant gases in earths atmosphere. a nitrogen molecule is 0.000000000003 meters larger than an oxygen molecule.
which statements describe writing 0.000000000003 in scientific notation? choose three correct answers.
the decimal moves to the right.
the exponent is negative.
the coefficient is 0.3.
the exponent is positive.
the exponent represents the number of places the decimal moves.

Explanation:

Step1: Write the number in scientific notation

Scientific notation is \(a\times10^{n}\), where \(1\leqslant|a|\lt10\) and \(n\) is an integer. For \(0.000000000003 = 3\times10^{- 12}\)

Step2: Analyze the coefficient

The coefficient \(a = 3\) (not \(0.3\)).

Step3: Analyze the exponent

Since the original number \(0.000000000003\lt1\), we move the decimal point to the right. We move the decimal point 12 places to the right to get a number between \(1\) and \(10\). So the exponent \(n=-12\) (negative) and the exponent represents the number of places the decimal moves.

Answer:

• The exponent is negative.
• The exponent represents the number of places the decimal moves.
• The decimal moves to the right.