Asked by Reese
When multiplying and dividing measured quantities, the number of significant figures in the result should be equal to the number of significant figures in _____.
all of the measurements
the least precise measurement
the most precise measurement
the least and most precise measurements
all of the measurements
the least precise measurement
the most precise measurement
the least and most precise measurements
Answers
Answered by
DrBob222
I think b is the best answer of the choices given.
Here is an example: 2.345 x 2.0 = 4.690. There are four significant figures in 2.345 and two in 2.0 so you will be allowed two in the answer. That will be 4.7. Same process in division. I don't look for what I see as the least precise measurement; rather I count the number of s.f. in each of the numbers and use an answer with the least number of s.f. in any of the numbers multiplied. Again, 1 x 2.556 x 3.54 x 9.999999 = 90.48239 but the number 1 has only 1 s.f. so you give the answer as 9E1.
Here is an example: 2.345 x 2.0 = 4.690. There are four significant figures in 2.345 and two in 2.0 so you will be allowed two in the answer. That will be 4.7. Same process in division. I don't look for what I see as the least precise measurement; rather I count the number of s.f. in each of the numbers and use an answer with the least number of s.f. in any of the numbers multiplied. Again, 1 x 2.556 x 3.54 x 9.999999 = 90.48239 but the number 1 has only 1 s.f. so you give the answer as 9E1.