Final answer:
The question involves understanding how to use a mathematical table for finding reciprocals and the importance of significant figures when using calculators for multiplication and division.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the use of a mathematical table, specifically dealing with reciprocal values and significant figures in the context of calculations.
To effectively use such a table, one should focus on the numbers themselves, rather than the placement of the decimal point.
For instance, the reciprocal of 8 is considered "1.25-like", which can represent values such as 0.125 or 12.5, emphasizing the pattern of 125 in the reciprocal.
The concept of significant figures plays a crucial role in rounding answers when using calculators, as calculators present purely computational results without regard for significant figure rules.
For instance, the multiplication of 2.48 by 6.3 resulting in 15.687 or the division of 12.2 by 1.7 yielding 7.176470588 requires understanding how many significant figures are appropriate to report based on the precision of the initial values.