What is the format called that uses powers of 10 in multiples of 3?

The correct answer is engineering notation, which is specifically designed to express numbers in a format that uses powers of ten in multiples of three. This means that the exponent in engineering notation must be a multiple of three, such as -3, 0, 3, 6, and so forth.

This format is particularly useful in engineering and technical fields as it aligns well with the metric system, which is also based on multiples of ten. For instance, instead of saying 1,000,000, it can be conveniently expressed as 1.0 x 10^6 in scientific notation, but in engineering notation, it would simply be 1.0 x 10^6 or 1.0 M (mega). This allows for easier recognition of the scale of the number and its relevance in calculations or measurements.

Understanding engineering notation is crucial for engineers, as it simplifies working with very large or very small values by providing a clear and concise way to represent them while highlighting the practical significance of the values involved.