Final answer:
In decimal form, trailing zeros may or may not be significant depending on whether the number has a decimal point. Zeros after the decimal are always significant, and the movement of the decimal point is linked to the power of ten.
Step-by-step explanation:
When converting numbers into decimal form, it is important to understand the concept of significant figures, especially when it comes to zeros. Zeros that appear after all nonzero digits are referred to as trailing zeros.
Rule 4 states that trailing zeros in a number without a decimal point may or may not be significant. To determine their significance, more context is needed, such as whether the number is in scientific notation, which can indicate precisely how many significant figures are intended. On the other hand, trailing zeros in a number with a decimal point are always significant. This rule is essential for correct scientific measurement and calculations.
In addition, the decimal point's movement is an important consideration. The number of places the decimal point moves is the same as the number of zeros in the power of ten. When dealing with very large or very small numbers, scientific notation is often used to make the numbers more manageable and to clearly show the number of significant digits.