Does this mean I write out the answer or keep it in scientific notation?

Question

Sirius is about 8.6 light years away from Earth. One light year is 9.46 x 10^15 kilometers. Find the distqance between Earth and Sirius in kilometers. Express your answer in scientific notation with 3 significant figures.

Like I know you multiply 9.46 x 8.6 x10^15, but do you keep it like that or does it want you to multiply 9.46 x 8.6 and then keep 10^15?

Answer 1

Significant figures - starting with the FIRST digit... so for pi, that would be 3.1415.... first three is 3.14

Then add the SCI notation at the end, so you multiply the numbers first, and then add the scientific notation to get your answer - keeping only 3 digits of the first. 8.6 is 8.6 x 10^0, so no need to worry.

81.3 x 10^15

Answer 2

i'm pretty sure it means multiply 9.46 by 8.6 and then keep 10^15 so it would be 81.4 x 10^15

Answer 3

Multiply 9.46 x 8.6 and present the answer to 3 digits to the right of the decimal. Keep the 10^? The power may change if there is a zero in the thousandths position (3rd space to the right of the decimal.)