Express each of the following with three significant figures.
0.002537
12345000
0.07966
620.2
Here are the rules for counting significant figures:
http://academic.umf.maine.edu/magri/PUBLIC.acd/tools/SigFigsAndRounding.html
0.00254
1.23 x 10^7
0.0800
620
To express each of the given numbers with three significant figures, you need to round them to three decimal places.
1. For the number 0.002537:
- Start counting from the leftmost non-zero digit and count three digits to the right.
- The third digit is 7.
- Since the next digit, 3, is less than 5, you keep the 7 and drop all the digits after it.
- The number rounded to three significant figures is 0.00254.
2. For the number 12,345,000:
- Start counting from the leftmost non-zero digit and count three digits to the right.
- The third digit is 5.
- The next digit, 0, is exactly 5, so you check if the digit before it, 4, is even or odd.
- Since 4 is even, you keep the 4, and drop all the digits after it.
- The number rounded to three significant figures is 12,400,000.
3. For the number 0.07966:
- Start counting from the leftmost non-zero digit and count three digits to the right.
- The third digit is 9.
- Since the next digit, 6, is greater than 5, you round up the 9.
- Drop all the digits after the third significant figure.
- The number rounded to three significant figures is 0.080.
4. For the number 620.2:
- Start counting from the leftmost non-zero digit and count three digits to the right.
- The third digit is 0.
- The next digit, 2, is less than 5, so you keep the 0 and drop all the digits after it.
- The number rounded to three significant figures is 620.