Question

Perform the following set of operations and choose the alternative that expresses the result to the proper number of significant figures. (1.5 x 10⁻⁴ X 61.3) + 2.01?

Answer 1

The calculation involving multiplication and addition should be rounded to three significant figures, resulting in the final answer of 2.09.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question asks to perform a calculation involving multiplication and addition, while carefully applying the rules of significant figures. According to these rules, the number of significant figures in the result should match the number with the fewest significant figures of the numbers in the operation.

First, calculate the product (1.5 x 10⁻⁴ * 61.3). Since 1.5 has two significant figures and 61.3 has three, the product must be rounded to two significant figures, resulting in 9.2 x 10⁻⁳. Next, add 2.01 to this product. The 2.01 has three significant figures, but since we are adding, we must round to the same decimal place as the least precise measurement, which is the tenths place. So the final result should have three significant figures: 2.09.