You are solving a measurement problem where the numbers 2.09 × 109 and 4.053 × 10−4 are divided. How many significant digits should the quotient have?

Question

a) 4

b) 3

c) 2

d) 1

Answer 1

The number of significant digits in the quotient of a division is determined by the number with the least significant digits used in the division.

In this case, the number 4.053 × 10^(-4) has 4 significant digits, while the number 2.09 × 10^9 has only 3 significant digits.

Thus, the quotient should have 3 significant digits.

The correct answer is: b) 3