Question

What numeral is the most significant digit in the measurement t = 24.705 s?

Answer 1

The most significant digit in the measurement of 24.705 s is '2', located in the tens place. All digits in this measurement are significant figures, with '2' being the largest and most significant one.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most significant digit in the measurement t = 24.705 s is the digit '2'. The term 'most significant digit' refers to the digit that has the greatest place value in a number, which, in this case, is the digit in the tens place. When dealing with significant figures, all non-zero numbers are considered significant. In the context of the measurement given, all the digits '2', '4', '7', '0', and '5' are significant, with '2' being the most significant.

It's important to note how to properly round measurements based on significant figures. For example, if we were to perform a calculation that had to be rounded to the same number of significant figures as the least precise measurement in the calculation, we would look at the digit immediately following the last significant figure we are keeping. If this digit is 5 or greater, we round up. For example, if a calculator gives a result as 921.996, but we need to round this number to two significant figures, it would become 922.00 since the third digit after the decimal is 9, which is greater than 5.

Answer 2

I would say that the numeral "2" would be the most significant digit as it signifies "20" and 20 is the largest number in this equation which could mean time=24.705 seconds perhaps. So using 20 as the multiplier gets close to the correct answer obtained from the actual 24.705.