Question

The appropriate number of significant figures in the result of 15.234 - 15.208 is?

1) 1
2) 2
3) 3
4) 4
5) 5

Answer 1

The result of the subtraction 15.234 - 15.208 should be expressed to three decimal places, making the number of significant figures 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate number of significant figures in the result of the subtraction 15.234 - 15.208 is determined by the least number of decimal places in any of the numbers involved in the operation. Here, both numbers have three decimal places. So, after performing the subtraction, which gives us 0.026, the result should also be expressed to three decimal places. However, since the trailing zeros to the left of the decimal do not count as significant, the number of significant figures in the result is 2. Hence, the correct answer is option 2), indicating that 0.026 has two significant figures.