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You are solving a measurement problem where the numbers 2.058 x 10⁹ and 3.0571 × 10⁻⁴ are divided. how many sianificant diaits should the guotient have?

a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5

User Ciera
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1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

The quotient of 2.058 x 10⁹ and 3.0571 × 10⁻⁴ should have 4 significant digits because that is the number of significant digits in the least precise measurement.

Step-by-step explanation:

When you divide the numbers 2.058 x 10⁹ and 3.0571 × 10⁻⁴, the number of significant digits in the quotient is determined by the number with the least amount of significant digits involved in the calculation.

In this case, 2.058 has 4 significant digits and 3.0571 has 5 significant digits.

According to significant figures rules, when dividing, the number of significant figures in the result should be the same as the number in the least precise measurement you're calculating with, which is 4 significant digits in this problem.

Therefore, the quotient should have 4 significant digits. So, the correct option is c. 4.

User Timmy Lin
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