If you multiply 2.5 (2 significant figures) by 3.42 (3 significant figures), how many significant figures should the result have?

1 question

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Q: If you multiply 2.5 (2 significant figures) by 3.42 (3 significant figures), how many significant figures should the result have?

Solution: The result should have 2 significant figures, as the least number of significant figures in the factors is 2.

Steps: 6

Step 1: Identify the number of significant figures in each number.
Step 2: Count the significant figures in 2.5. It has 2 significant figures.
Step 3: Count the significant figures in 3.42. It has 3 significant figures.
Step 4: Determine which number has the least significant figures. Here, 2.5 has the least with 2 significant figures.
Step 5: When multiplying numbers, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the factor with the least significant figures.
Step 6: Therefore, the result of multiplying 2.5 by 3.42 should have 2 significant figures.