Which inversion of a triad would be referred to as "3"?

In music theory, the inversion of a triad is determined by the position of the root of the triad in relation to the other notes. Inversions change the bass note of the triad while maintaining the same notes.

When discussing a triad in the context of "3," it's important to recognize that each inversion has a specific numbering system. The "3" refers to the situation where the fifth of the triad is placed in the bass, which is known as the second inversion. In the second inversion, the triad is rearranged so that the lowest note is a perfect fifth above the root, indicating that the third of the chord is now on the bottom.

In this context, calling it "third inversion" would actually be a misnomer because true third inversion would apply to extended chords or seventh chords, which are not the focus here. Therefore, the correct choice is the one that represents the second inversion, where the bass note is the fifth of the triad, fitting the reference to "3" in standard inversion notation.