do this using the appropriate number of sig figs
320.44 − (3104.1/2.6)
i got -880 as my answer and it said to check my sig figs. I thought it was all the numbers up to the ones place
3104.1/2.6 gives 1193.88 but that answer may have only two sig figs (because of the 2.6) so that rounds to -1.2E3.
-879.6?
I would do it this way.
3104.1/2.6 = -1193.88
-1193.88 = -1.19388E3 (2 s.f.)
+ 320.44 = 0.32044E3
= 0.87344E3 which rounds to 0.9. You are allowed the tenths in the 1.2E3 answer so you are allowed tenths in the answer.
I am confused so the answer would be .87?
oh oops i didn't see the e3
-870
To determine the appropriate number of significant figures in your answer, you need to consider the number with the fewest significant figures in the calculation – in this case, it is the number 2.6, which has two significant figures.
Let's evaluate the expression step by step:
1. Divide 3104.1 by 2.6 to get a quotient of 1193.88461538. Since 2.6 has two significant figures, the answer should also have two significant figures. Therefore, we round the quotient to 1200.
2. Subtract 320.44 from 1200. Now, since 320.44 has five significant figures, the final result should be rounded to the least number of significant figures, which is two. Therefore, we round the difference to -880.
Hence, the appropriate answer, using the correct number of significant figures, is -880.