Final answer:
The statement is false. In multiplication and division, the final answer should match the measurement with the fewest significant figures, while in addition and subtraction, it should match the fewest decimal places.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement in the question is false. The rule in multiplication and division is that the final answer should have the same number of significant figures as the number with the fewest significant figures, not decimal places. For instance, if we multiply 1.35 (which has three significant figures) by 2.1 (which has two significant figures), we get 2.835. We must round this to 2.8 to have two significant figures in the answer, matching the number with the fewest significant figures.
By contrast, the rule in addition and subtraction is that the answer is given the same number of decimal places as the term with the fewest decimal places. For example, when adding 13.2 (one decimal place) to 12.252 (three decimal places), the result is 25.452, which should be rounded to 25.5 to reflect the least certain measurement, which in this case has only one decimal place.
It's essential to recognize that calculators will not apply these rules automatically. A user must interpret the significance of their numbers and round accordingly. When you multiply 2.48 by 6.3 on a typical calculator, you might get an answer like 15.687, but due to significant figures, you would need to round this to 16 (since 6.3 only has two significant figures).