1. **State the problem:** Convert the number 577,000,000 into an equivalent form expressed as a number times $10^5$. 2. **Recall the rule:** Any number can be expressed in scientific notation or as a product of a number and a power of 10. Here, we want to write 577,000,000 as $a \times 10^5$ where $a$ is a number. 3. **Express 577,000,000 in terms of powers of 10:** $$577,000,000 = 577,000,000$$ 4. **Rewrite 577,000,000 as $a \times 10^5$:** We divide 577,000,000 by $10^5$: $$a = \frac{577,000,000}{10^5}$$ 5. **Calculate $a$:** $$a = \frac{577,000,000}{100,000} = 5770$$ 6. **Final equivalent form:** $$577,000,000 = 5770 \times 10^5$$ This means 577,000,000 can be written as 5770 times $10^5$. **Answer:** $577,000,000 = 5770 \times 10^5$