How do you convert 8.08 x 5.232 into the correct of significant figures?

Answer 1

When multiplying, the product is going to have the same number of significant digits as the least amount in the factors. So 8.08 has three significant digits and 5.232 has four significant digits. Remember that any zeros in-between significant digits is always significant. Because the least amount of sig digs in the factors is three (from 8.08), the product is going to have three sig digs.

Multiplying out normally: 8.08 × 5.232 = 42.27456

Rounded to three places: 42.3

Answer 2

The least number of significant figures in any number of the problem determines the number of significant figures in the answer.