Final answer:
Trailing zeros are significant when the number contains a decimal point, affecting the count of significant figures in measurements. Without a decimal point, they may not be significant unless scientific notation is used to indicate precision.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zeros at the end of the number, or trailing zeros, are only significant when the number contains a decimal point. This is an important convention in determining significant figures in reported measurements. If there is no decimal point, trailing zeros may not necessarily be significant—they might only serve to put the significant digits in the correct positional places. To ensure that zeros are counted as significant, you can use scientific notation to clarify what's significant. For example, 200 could be meant as two significant figures (2.0 x 102), or three significant figures (2.00 x 102).
However, when a decimal point is present in a number, such as 150.00, all zeros are significant, irrespective of whether they come before or after the decimal point (so, five significant figures in this example). Remember, the correct understanding of significant figures plays a crucial role in accurately representing the certainty and precision of a measurement.