You count the number of figures from left to right starting with the first number different from 0.
Example:
205 has 3 significant figures
0.0000205 has 3 significant figures
0.000020500000 has 8 significant figures
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rules to follow in determining the number of sigificant * zero's are not significant at the end of the whole number which does not have a decimal point * EXAMPLE: 3400 ( 2 sf's) 2000 (2sf's)*
The least number of significant figures in any number of the problem determines the number of significant figures in the answer which in this case is 270.9
The least number of significant figures in any number of the problem determines the number of significant figures in the answer which in this case is 656.64
If they did not use rules all their calculations would simply lead to random digits!
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rules to follow in determining the number of sigificant * zero's are not significant at the end of the whole number which does not have a decimal point * EXAMPLE: 3400 ( 2 sf's) 2000 (2sf's)*
When adding or multiplying numbers, the result should have the same number of decimal places as the number with the fewest decimal places. For addition, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the number with the fewest significant figures. For multiplication, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the number with the fewest significant figures.
When adding or subtracting numbers, the result should have the same number of decimal places as the number with the fewest decimal places. When multiplying or dividing numbers, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the number with the fewest significant figures.
When adding or subtracting measurements, the result should have the same number of decimal places as the measurement with the fewest decimal places. When multiplying or dividing measurements, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the fewest significant figures.
The simple rule is: no more significant figures than the least accurate of the values in the computation. For multiplication and division, the result should have as many significant figures as the measured number with the smallest number of significant figures. For addition and subtraction, the result should have as many decimal places as the measured number with the smallest number of decimal places. (Rounding off can be tricky, but that would be another thread)
The least number of significant figures in any number of the problem determines the number of significant figures in the answer which in this case is 270.9
The least number of significant figures in any number of the problem determines the number of significant figures in the answer which in this case is 656.64
If they did not use rules all their calculations would simply lead to random digits!
Four significant figures. Review you rules for significant figures. Some chemistry teachers, especially at the college level, are very concerned with significant figures.
The least number of significant figures in any number of the problem determines the number of significant figures in the answer which in this case is 273.8