Question

Zeros to the left of the first nonzero digit are insignificant (they don't count); they are only placeholders. How many significant figures in 0.000000000000000000000000000000000052?

a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5

Answer 1

Zeros to the left of the first nonzero digit are only placeholders. The number 0.000000000000000000000000000000000052 has 2 significant figures.

Step-by-step explanation:

Zeros

Special consideration is given to zeros when counting significant figures. The zeros in 0.053 are not significant, because they are only placekeepers that locate the decimal point. There are two significant figures in 0.053. The zeros in 10.053 are not placekeepers but are significant-this number has five significant figures. The zeros in 1300 may or may not be significant depending on the style of writing numbers. They could mean the number is known to the last digit, or they could be placekeepers. So 1300 could have two, three, or four significant figures. (To avoid this ambiguity, write 1300 in scientific notation.) Zeros are significant except when they serve only as placekeepers.