Question

2.524 g (5.1 × 106 g) ÷ (6.85 × 103 g) = ? How many significant figures should the result have?

Answer 1

The answer should have two significant figures because it should match the measurement with the least number of significant figures in the given problem, which is the number 5.1 × 106 g.

Step-by-step explanation:

The given mathematical operation involves multiplication followed by division. To solve it and determine the number of significant figures, perform the following calculation:

2.524 g (multiplied by) 5.1 × 106 g, then divided by 6.85 × 103 g.

This process gives us a raw answer, which we then need to round to the correct number of significant figures. The rule here is that the result should have the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the least number of significant figures in the problem. In this case, the number with the least number of significant figures is 5.1 × 106 g, which has two significant figures. As such, the final result should also be reported with two significant figures.

Therefore, after calculation and rounding, the result should be presented as a number with two significant figures. For example, if after performing the multiplication and division, we get a raw answer of 1.94235 × 102, we would round this to 1.9 × 102 to maintain the appropriate number of significant figures.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve the equation, we will first multiply the numerator and denominator separately and then divide it, to attain the final result.

The equation given is:

`2.524g(5.1* 106g)/ (6.85* 103g)=1364.4744g^2/ 705.55g\\\\\Rightarrow 1.933\approx 1.9`

Whenever multiplication and division are involved, the answer must not contain, more number of significant figures as there are in the least precise term.

Of all the given terms, the least precise number has 2 significant numbers. Therefore, the answer would have 2 significant figures and the final answer will be 1.9