Are significant figures relevant in temperature?
ex: (-459 *F - 32 *F)(5 *C/ 9 *F) =
-272.78 *C
So would I leave my answer as -272.78 *C? or -273 *C because of significant figures?
Significant figures are generally relevant in scientific measurements and calculations to reflect the precision and accuracy of the values involved. However, the use of significant figures may vary depending on the context and the specific rules set by your teacher or the scientific convention you are following.
In the case of your temperature conversion example, it appears that the original values given (-459 *F) and (5 *C/9 *F) have only two significant figures each. According to the rules of significant figures, when multiplying or dividing numbers, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the value with the fewest significant figures involved in the calculation.
So, in this case, the intermediate result (-459 *F - 32 *F) obtained by subtracting two values will also have two significant figures. When you proceed to multiply this intermediate result by (5 *C/9 *F), the result (-272.78 *C) should also be rounded to two significant figures, consistent with the fewest number of significant figures in the original values.
Therefore, in this specific context, you would leave your answer as -272.78 *C, rounding to two significant figures. However, do note that the specific rules for significant figures may vary depending on the situation or the guidelines you are following, so it's always important to consider the appropriate rules for each calculation and measurement context.