Q. When multiplying 2.5 and 3.42, how many significant figures should the result have?
A.2
B.3
C.4
D.5
Solution
The result should have the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the least significant figures, which is 2.5 (2 significant figures).
Q. When multiplying 3.00 and 2.5, how many significant figures should the answer have?
A.2
B.3
C.4
D.5
Solution
In multiplication, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the factor with the least significant figures. 3.00 has 3 significant figures and 2.5 has 2 significant figures, so the answer should have 2 significant figures.
Q. When multiplying 3.00 by 2.5, how many significant figures should the answer have?
A.2
B.3
C.4
D.5
Solution
In multiplication, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the factor with the least significant figures. 3.00 has 3 significant figures and 2.5 has 2 significant figures, so the answer should have 2 significant figures.
Q. When multiplying 3.24 by 2.1, what is the correct number of significant figures in the final answer?
A.4
B.3
C.2
D.1
Solution
In multiplication, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the factor with the least significant figures. 3.24 has 3 significant figures and 2.1 has 2 significant figures, so the answer should have 2 significant figures.
Q. When subtracting 5.678 from 10.0, how should the answer be rounded?
A.4.32
B.4.3
C.4.4
D.4.00
Solution
In subtraction, the result should be rounded to the least number of decimal places. 10.0 has one decimal place and 5.678 has three, so the answer should be rounded to one decimal place: 4.32 becomes 4.3.
Q. Which of the following is the correct representation of 0.0004500 in scientific notation?
A.4.500 x 10^-4
B.4.5 x 10^-4
C.4.5000 x 10^-4
D.4.5 x 10^-5
Solution
In scientific notation, all non-zero digits and any trailing zeros after the decimal point are significant. Therefore, 0.0004500 is expressed as 4.500 x 10^-4.
Q. Which of the following numbers has the least significant figures?
A.0.00560
B.0.0560
C.0.560
D.5.60
Solution
0.00560 has 3 significant figures, 0.0560 has 3 significant figures, 0.560 has 3 significant figures, and 5.60 has 3 significant figures. However, 0.00560 is the smallest number, but all have the same count of significant figures.
Q. Which of the following numbers has the most significant figures?
A.0.00789
B.7890
C.7.890 x 10^3
D.0.07890
Solution
7.890 x 10^3 has 4 significant figures, while the others have 3, 3, and 4 respectively, but the leading zeros in the first and last options do not count.
Q. Which of the following operations will yield a result with the least number of significant figures?
A.5.00 + 2.0
B.3.00 x 4.0
C.6.0 / 2.00
D.1.5 - 0.50
Solution
In the operation 3.00 x 4.0, 3.00 has three significant figures and 4.0 has two. The result will have two significant figures, which is the least among the options.