Here's why:
* Scientific notation requires a number between 1 and 10 (inclusive) multiplied by a power of 10.
* In your example, 42 is greater than 10.
To express 42 x 10² in scientific notation, you would do this:
1. Move the decimal point in 42 two places to the left to get 4.2.
2. Adjust the exponent to reflect the decimal movement. Since we moved the decimal two places to the left, the exponent increases by 2.
Therefore, 42 x 10² in scientific notation is 4.2 x 10³.
