Final answer:
To round 210,000 to the two nearest significant figures yields 2.1 x 10^5. The lowest possible actual value is 205,000 and the highest is 214,999, applying rules of significant figures based on the least precise measurement in a given calculation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering a value such as a house price to the nearest two significant figures, the range of possible values can be determined by rounding. A house valued at 210,000 to the two nearest significant figures can be represented as 2.1 x 105.
The lowest possible value that still rounds to 210,000 when considering two significant figures would be 205,000, because anything less would round down to 200,000. Conversely, the highest possible value before rounding up to 220,000 is 214,999 because once you reach 215,000, it rounds up according to the rules of significant figures.
To understand significant figures in calculations, consider the example where the calculator gives an answer of 2,001.06, but the values used in the calculation have their farthest-right significant figure in the ones place. Because of this, the final answer must be limited to the ones position, making it 2,001 when rounded correctly.
This is an application of the rules of significant figures where the precision of the final result must match the least precise measurement used in the calculation.