Unit scaling — choose the most concise engineering notation for 7,500,000 W (watts) from the following options.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 7.5 MW

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Expressing large or small quantities in appropriate SI prefixes makes technical communication clearer. Power is commonly stated in W, kW, MW, or GW depending on scale. The goal is to choose the compact, correct prefix form for 7,500,000 W.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • 1 kW = 10^3 W.
  • 1 MW = 10^6 W.
  • 1 GW = 10^9 W.


Concept / Approach:
Convert watts to the nearest convenient SI-prefixed unit by dividing by powers of ten. Since 7,500,000 W = 7.5 × 10^6 W, the megawatt scale is appropriate. Reporting the value as 7.5 MW is concise and standard in power systems and specifications.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Write 7,500,000 W as 7.5 × 10^6 W.Recognize that 1 MW = 10^6 W.Therefore, 7,500,000 W = 7.5 MW.Select 7.5 MW as the best expression.


Verification / Alternative check:
Back-convert: 7.5 MW × 10^6 W/MW = 7,500,000 W, confirming equivalence.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • 7.5 kW: Off by a factor of 1000; 7.5 kW = 7,500 W.
  • 7,500 MW: Off by a factor of 1000; equals 7.5 × 10^9 W.
  • 7,500 GW: Off by a factor of 10^6; equals 7.5 × 10^12 W.
  • 0.0075 GW: Numerically equal to 7.5 MW but far less standard than 7.5 MW for this magnitude; the best concise form is MW.


Common Pitfalls:
Confusing k (10^3), M (10^6), and G (10^9); writing overly large numbers without prefixes, reducing readability.


Final Answer:
7.5 MW

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