Final answer:
The two whole numbers closest to 200 are 199 and 201. These numbers are selected by looking at the immediate numbers before and after 200 on the number line. Even when discussing significant figures, this does not change the fact that the closest whole numbers remain 199 and 201.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the two whole numbers closest to 200, one would typically look at the number line and select the immediate whole numbers that come just before and just after 200. These are 199 and 201, respectively.
When discussing the concept of significant figures in calculations, such as the example given where the final answer must be rounded in accordance with the least precise measurement, the two closest whole numbers to 200 would still be considered 199 and 201. Rounding would only apply if we were dealing with numbers that had more precision than whole numbers, such as decimals or scientific measurements.
For instance, if we have a calculation that involves significant figures and the output is approximately around 200, we would follow the rules of significant figures mentioned in the supporting information. If the least precise number in our calculation had decimal places, we would round our final answer to have the same number of decimal places as the least precise number, but this would not change the fact that 199 and 201 are still the closest whole numbers to 200.