Final answer:
The last zero in 8500.0 is significant as it follows a decimal point, showing precision, unlike the trailing zeros in 8500 without a decimal which may just be placeholders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The last zero in 8500.0 is significant because it follows a decimal point, indicating a level of precision in measurement. This implies that the measurement was made to the tenths decimal place and that the zero is needed to express this accuracy. On the other hand, in the number 8500 without a decimal point, the last zero is not necessarily significant as it may simply serve as a placeholder. The presence of a decimal point in a number affects the significance of trailing zeros.
To make trailing zeros in numbers without decimal points clearly significant, scientific notation is often used. The significance of zeros in the context of significant figures depends on their positioning and whether they are trailing zeros after a decimal point or simply placeholder zeros without a decimal.The last zero in 8500.0 is significant because it follows a decimal point, indicating precision. In numbers with a decimal point, trailing zeros are always significant. The last zero in 8500, on the other hand, is not significant because it does not follow a decimal point and is considered a placeholder zero.