Question

To the correct number of significant figures: (2.233 x 10-2) x (3.2 x 10-3) =

Answer 1

You have a multiplication of numbers in scientific notation

`(2.233*10^(-2))*(3.2*10^(-3))`

To solve it start by multiplying the numbers that are not powers of 10:

`2.233*3.2=7.1456`

Then multiply the powers of ten by adding the exponents:

`10^(-2)*10^(-3)=10^((-2)+(-3))=10^(-5)`

Then, the product is:

`7.1456*10^(-5)`

But, you need to take into account the rule to determine the number of significant figures in a multiplication:

The first number has 4 significant figures (2.233) and the second has 2 significant figures (3.2), then the number of significant figures in the answer have to be 2:

`7.1*10^(-5)`

This will be the correct answer.