Final answer:
The question does not provide enough information to determine side b. Examples of rounding to a certain number of significant figures or decimal places are given for clarification. To answer the question accurately, more context or information is required.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question seems to be incomplete as it lacks the necessary information or context to find side b. However, typically, these questions involve using the Pythagorean theorem or trigonometry to find missing side lengths in triangles, or other formulas in the context of different shapes and problems. When rounding numbers to a certain number of decimal places or significant figures, it is important to understand how to do so correctly. Here are general examples of how to round numbers:
- Rounding to two decimal places: In the example of 31.57 (to two significant figures), it is already rounded to two decimal places, but if we had 31.567, it would be 31.57 because following the decimal, the number 7 forces the previous digit to round up.
- Rounding to three significant figures: An example would be 8.1649 which rounds to 8.16 because the fourth figure, 4, is less than 5, so there is no rounding up.
- Rounding to four significant figures: 0.051065 rounded to four significant figures would be 0.05107, since the sixth figure, 5, would round up the previous digit.
- For intermediate calculations, such as in a multi-step problem, you might round your intermediate answers to a certain number of significant figures to maintain accuracy in your final calculation. For instance, if you have an intermediate answer of 0.90275 and you need it to four significant figures, you would round it to 0.9028.
- Remember that when rounding and the first number being dropped is greater than 5, you round up. If it is less than 5, you do not round up.
If the student can provide the context in which side b needs to be found, more targeted assistance can be offered.