Final answer:
0.32 rounded to three significant figures is represented as 0.320, which preserves the measurement's precision without changing its value. This maintains accuracy according to the rules of significant figures. The correct answer is C) 0.32
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking us to round the number 0.32 to three significant figures. The significant figures of a number are the digits that carry meaning contributing to its measurement resolution. This includes all non-zero digits, zero digits that are amidst non-zero digits, or trailing zeroes in the decimal portion of the number. Since 0.32 already has two significant figures (3 and 2), and no trailing zeroes in the decimal portion that would change its precision, we simply add a trailing zero to make it three significant figures without altering its value. Thus, the correct answer is A) 0.320.
Let's also look at a couple of other examples given in the reference:
- For the number 31.57 to two significant figures, we would round it to 32.
- For the number 8.1649 to three significant figures, we would round it to 8.16.
- For the number 0.051065 to four significant figures, we would round it to 0.05106.
- For the number 0.90275 to four significant figures, we would round it to 0.9028.
These examples further illustrate how to round to the specified number of significant figures while maintaining the accuracy of the measurement as much as possible.