Final answer:
The given explanation correctly indicates why 0.196 is greater by using place value comparison, which is pivotal in understanding decimal numbers and their magnitudes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "0.196 is greater because in the thousandths place six is greater than five, and in the hundredths place nine is greater than one" does indeed provide evidence that 0.196 is greater than a comparative number that has not been given in its entirety. Assuming the comparative number is 0.195 or similar, the logic follows that in a place value comparison, the digit in the highest non-equal place value dictates which number is greater. Since six is greater than five in the thousandths place, and regardless of the hundredths place comparison, 0.196 would indeed be greater than a number like 0.195. This explanation is based on the place value system and is a fundamental concept in comparing decimal numbers.
When considering significant figures, zeros can indeed play a role in indicating precision. Zeros that are between non-zero digits or trailing zeros in a decimal number are significant. Using scientific notation can help clarify which zeros are significant by only including those that are truly significant in the coefficient of the number. For example, the zero in a measurement of 150 mm might be a placeholder or might indicate significant precision, depending on the context of the measurement and the precision of the measuring device used.