Final answer:
To calculate the area to the appropriate level of precision, combine the inexact numbers and round the total to align with the least precise measurement. In this example, the final area of 208.20 square inches is rounded to 208.2 square inches, considering our least precise number was to the tenths place.
Step-by-step explanation:
When calculating the area of a figure and combining inexact numbers, it's crucial to round the final answer to the correct number of significant figures.
To illustrate, let's imagine we have two measurements: 137.3 square inches with its least precise significant figure at the tenths place, and 70.90 square inches with its least precise significant figure at the hundredths place. When combined, these measurements total 208.20 square inches.
To round appropriately, we observe that our least precise measurement was to the tenths place (137.3). Hence, we must round our final combined area to the tenths place as well.
This means our final answer would be 208.2 square inches after rounding the second decimal place, following the standard rules of rounding where we look at the third decimal place.
Since the third decimal place is '0', we do not round up. Therefore, we report our answer as 208.2 to maintain the appropriate level of precision based on the least precise measurement given.