How can 250000 be expressed in scientific notation?

In scientific notation, a number is expressed as a product of a number between 1 and 10, and a power of ten. To convert 250,000 into scientific notation, you first identify the significant figures in the number. The number 250,000 can be expressed as 2.5 when adjusted to fall between 1 and 10.

Next, you count how many places you need to move the decimal point to convert 250,000 into 2.5. The decimal point in 250,000 is at the end of the number, and it moves five places to the left to be positioned after the 2. Therefore, you represent this shift with a positive exponent of 10, giving you 2.5 x 10^5.

Thus, the correct expression of 250,000 in scientific notation is 2.5 x 10^5, which captures both the significant figures and the magnitude of the number accurately.