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Use the following scenario to answer the question below:

You are deciding between two cars with different engines and want the bigger
of the two. One engine displaces 350 cubic inches. The other displaces 5,500
cubic centimeters. How many significant figures do the values in this problem
involve?
A. 4
B. 3
C. 2
D. 1

Use the following scenario to answer the question below: You are deciding between-example-1
User Lukess
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2 Answers

4 votes
Not a answere need points srry
User Freemanpolys
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The answer to the question is:

C. 2

To determine the number of significant figures in each value provided in the problem, we can follow these steps:

1. Understanding Significant Figures: Significant figures are the digits in a number that are known with a certain degree of reliability. The rules for determining significant figures are as follows:

- All non-zero digits are considered significant.

- Any zeros between non-zero digits are significant.

- Leading zeros are not significant.

- Trailing zeros to the right of the decimal point are significant.

- Trailing zeros in a whole number with the decimal shown are significant (e.g., 100. has 3 significant figures).

2. Evaluating the First Value (350 cubic inches):

- The number 350 has three digits: 3, 5, and 0.

- The zero is trailing, but since there is no decimal point shown, it is not considered significant.

- Therefore, the number 350 has two significant figures.

3. Evaluating the Second Value (5,500 cubic centimeters):

- The number 5,500 has four digits: 5, 5, and two zeros.

- The zeros are trailing, and without a decimal point, they are not considered significant.

- Therefore, the number 5,500 also has two significant figures.

Both 350 cubic inches and 5,500 cubic centimeters involve two significant figures based on the rules for significant figures.

User KFichter
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