Homonym: 5 × 10^3 (Magnitude)
The expression "5 × 10^3" is a way to represent a number using scientific notation. In this case, it means 5 multiplied by 10 raised to the power of 3. The power of 3 indicates that we multiply 10 by itself three times, which equals 1,000. Therefore, "5 × 10^3" simplifies to 5,000. This notation is useful for expressing very large or very small numbers in a more manageable form.
Scientific notation is commonly used in fields like science, engineering, and finance to make calculations easier. For example, instead of writing 5,000, scientists can simply use "5 × 10^3." This method helps to quickly convey large quantities, such as the distance between stars