Question

How many significant figures are represented by the following number that is written in scientific notation? 2.5 × 10³

1) 0
2) 1
3) 2
4) 3
5) none of the above

Answer 1

The number 2.5 × 10³ in scientific notation has two significant figures, represented by the two non-zero digits in the coefficient.

Step-by-step explanation:

The number 2.5 × 10³ has two significant figures. When a number is expressed in scientific notation, all the significant figures are listed explicitly in the coefficient of the number (the part before the exponent). The number 2.5 indicates that it consists of two non-zero digits, which are both significant; the digit 2 is significant because it is a non-zero digit, and the digit 5 is also significant because it is a non-zero digit. The exponential part of scientific notation, in this case, the 10³, only serves to locate the decimal point and does not contribute to the count of significant figures.