Consider the following 26 x106 375 x104 Address each of the

Consider the following:

2.6 x10⁶ * 3.75 x10^-4

Address each of the questions below in your answer.

a. Please determine the number of significant figures for each expression

b. Multiply these two numbers and state the answer rounded correctly, accounting for significant figures

Solution

a] The number 2.6 x 10⁶ is corrected to 2 significant figures as the trailing zeros after the decimal are insignificant.

Similarly, the number 3.75 x 10^-4 has 3 significant figures.

b]

The product of the two numbers will be: 2.6 x 10⁶ x 3.75 x 10^-4 = 975.

But the least significant number in the product determines the number of significant figures in the answer.

therefore the number of significant figures in the final answer will be only be 2.

so the answer will be: 9.8 x 10 = 980.