Question

If the decimal is present, what side do you start counting digits from?

1) Left side
2) Right side
3) Cannot be determined

Answer 1

Start counting significant figures from the first nonzero digit on the left in a decimal number. Leading zeros are never significant while trailing zeros after a decimal point are.

Step-by-step explanation:

When counting digits in a decimal number to determine the number of significant figures, you start counting from the first nonzero digit on the left and count this digit and all remaining digits to the right. This includes any trailing zeros that are to the right of a decimal point, as they are considered significant. However, zeros that come before the first nonzero digit, also known as leading zeros, are not significant and simply serve to place the significant digits correctly.

For example, in the number 0.00540, the significant figures are only the '5' and the two '4' and '0' after the decimal point, whereas the leading zeros are not significant. Zeros to the left of a number without a decimal, commonly referred to as left-end zeros, are also never considered significant.