3.1) \( 1.629 \times 10^{5} \)

Did you know that scientific notation, like \( 1.629 \times 10^{5} \), originated from the need to express very large or very small numbers in a more manageable form? This method was popularized by mathematicians and scientists who wanted to avoid cumbersome calculations with long strings of digits, especially in fields like astronomy and physics. It's pretty nifty, right? Now, let's talk about how you might use this in real life! Suppose you were measuring the distance to the nearest star, which is about \( 4.24 \) light-years away. In kilometers, that's roughly \( 40 trillion \) km! Scientific notation makes it easier to grasp and communicate these gigantic numbers without losing your mind in zeroes. Pretty convenient for stargazers and space enthusiasts!