Which is the best definition of denotation? the meaning you find from looking at a visual, either in parts or as a whole the study of signs or communication the literal, or real, meaning of what is being communicated

Is the main definition of something, is the definition of the dictionary related to something. It is different from the connotation;  is absent from the emotion associated with something, as it happens in the connotation.

including the octave, the answer would 8 notes in a major scale with one note being played twice. ex) c major scale includes: c, d, e, f, g, a, b, c

notice that c is played twice

however, if you were to ask me how many different notes are in a major scale- the answer would be 7.