Final answer:
The value 6.2 represents an estimation of the second factor, and when dealing with significant figures in calculations, it's important to round the number to match the least number of significant figures in any of the inexact numbers used.
Step-by-step explanation:
The second factor mentioned, which is approximated to 6.2, represents an estimation of the second factor and not the exact value. When performing calculations where significant figures are considered, it is crucial to match the precision of the approximate number with the precision of the inexact numbers used in the calculation. Since the question mentions three inexact numbers (180, 16, and 2.20) with the smallest number of significant figures being two, any product or result of these should also be reported with two significant figures.
If we consider the rules for significant figures:
- In addition and subtraction, the answer must have the same number of decimal places as the number with the smallest number of decimal places in the original numbers.
- In multiplication and division, the answer must have the same number of significant figures as the original number with the smallest number of significant figures.
The example provided shows that while calculators will provide many decimal places, it's the human operator who must round the answer to the appropriate number of significant figures. Therefore, while a calculator might show 6.2 as a product, one needs to adjust the number to match the correct number of significant figures relevant to the calculation at hand.