Question

Do the following calculation and express the answer using the correct number of significant figures:

(2.97 x 10^2) x (6.09 x 10^-7) = ?

Answer 1

To multiply (2.97 x 10^2) and (6.09 x 10^-7) with the correct number of significant figures, the answer is 1.81 x 10^-4 after rounding to three significant figures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The calculation you are asking about, with the proper number of significant figures, is: (2.97 x 102) x (6.09 x 10-7). Both numbers have three significant figures, so your final answer should also have three significant figures.

First, let's perform the multiplication without worrying about the significant figures:

(2.97 x 102) x (6.09 x 10-7) = 2.97 x 6.09 x 102 x 10-7

= 18.0863 x 10-5

Now we need to round this to three significant figures:

18.0863 rounds to 18.1, therefore:

(2.97 x 102) x (6.09 x 10-7) = 18.1 x 10-5 or in scientific notation: 1.81 x 10-4.